Diesels left running

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 5:55 pm

I've noticed more and more diesel drivers parking their vehicles, sitting in them and leaving the engines running for ages like 30 mins sometimes. It's not cold or overly hot. Is there a logical reason for this? Seems odd and antisocial.

Nanu · Post by **Nanu** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 7:50 pm

Have you checked if there are any Just Stop Oil protesters glued to the road behind the diesel cars exhausts?

Just a thought

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 7:52 pm

I hope so!

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:30 pm

MikeyH wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 5:55 pm I've noticed more and more diesel drivers parking their vehicles, sitting in them and leaving the engines running for ages like 30 mins sometimes. It's not cold or overly hot. Is there a logical reason for this? Seems odd and antisocial.

It's purely because they are idiots*.

There is an epidemic of idiots lately. Hopefully somebody is developing a vaccine, because it is getting out of control.
Those same idiots will be sitting in their cars complaining on Facebook or Twatter, on their £2,000 i-phones, how fuel prices are crippling and their 'all inclusive' holiday in Greece was ruined by the heat and fires. And that they are struggling to pay the rent!

* disclaimer: idiots also drive petrol and EVs but they are more difficult to hear or smell, especially the latter (unless the batteries spontaneously combust, then it's a firework show).

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:57 pm

Just make it illegal like it is in Switzerland, problem sorted. And in Switzerland they knock on the window if the engine is left on too long to their liking. In the UK they would probably have been stabbed though.

BeeEmm · Post by **BeeEmm** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:10 pm

pvr wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 8:57 pm Just make it illegal

It is illegal. The Road Traffic Act 1988 prohibits leaving your engine on when it is not needed. This act enforces Rule 123 of the Highway Code, which states “you must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road”.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:27 pm

I always leave the hair dryer running whilst shaving the legs, starting to feel antisocial now

Tim.

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Mon Jul 31, 2023 11:35 pm

BeeEmm wrote: ↑Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:10 pm It is illegal. The Road Traffic Act 1988 prohibits leaving your engine on when it is not needed. This act enforces Rule 123 of the Highway Code, which states “you must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road”.

Which is quite ironic when "the highways dept" vehicles I see are always left with their engines running while the 'hi-vis' jacket brigade have a good chin-wag rather than doing anything constructive. And when they all stop for lunch (each one in a separate van or lorry of course) they all sit there with the engines running, even in Summer!

I refer back to my first post on the subject; idiots!

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Tue Aug 01, 2023 7:04 am

Didn’t know it was actually illegal but obviously not enforced. Perhaps make it more socially unacceptable like in CH.

smorris_12 · Post by **smorris_12** » Tue Aug 01, 2023 9:14 am

Diesels be damned, people with petrol engines have done it for donkeys years. I've always presumed they want the aircon going and are too lazy to open the window and turn it off. I watched some people in a 540i sat for bloody ages idling on a day that was of a perfectly neutrality and joyous to be out in. Must have cost a fortune.

Oddly enough, at idle, Diesels are jolly efficient. I have a friend who, for many years, was at the side of the motorways in hi-viz and he was quite amazed at how little fuel he'd burn leaving it idling for hours. When you've got a plethora of beacons on the roof, a water heater to run and need to be able to actually get home without calling the AA for a jump start, and also want somewhere warm to dry off in because it's hissing down with rain, leaving it running does make sense.

inkey$ · Post by **inkey$** » Tue Aug 01, 2023 9:21 am

I leave my Clubman on tickover sometimes when I’m sat waiting for wife/kids. Mainly on hot days so the aircon keeps me cool and listening to the radio which switches off after 5 mins with ignition off. Don’t really see what the problem is tbh.

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Tue Aug 01, 2023 9:35 am

First google hit on the idling question:

Fact - An idling engine can produce up to twice as many exhaust emissions as an engine in motion. An idling car can fill up to 150 balloons with harmful emissions every minute. Switching off your engine can go a long way to improving air quality

As always, depends where you are. On a motorway hard shoulder it is not going to impact anyone. In a residential area, it will.

inkey$ · Post by **inkey$** » Tue Aug 01, 2023 10:15 am

...but of course we are currently talking on a forum where 99.9% of members own at least two cars, one of which they will semi-regularly thrash on motorways and country lanes

Original question feels a bit pot, kettle and black

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Tue Aug 01, 2023 10:54 am

And I have a diesel generator as the powergrid is cr*p

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Tue Aug 01, 2023 12:04 pm

inkey$ wrote: ↑Tue Aug 01, 2023 10:15 am ...but of course we are currently talking on a forum where 99.9% of members own at least two cars,

Don't know about anyone else, but I find it impossible to drive more than one at a time. So that point is irrelevant.

inkey$ wrote: ↑Tue Aug 01, 2023 9:21 am Don’t really see what the problem is tbh.

Think there are a few associated with 'climate change' who would possibly tell you.

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