My peeve too. For more then 25 years I had to drive to work by an elementary school in Franklin, Ma in the AM. Typically (I counted 'em many times) there were 75+ cars with kids in them waiting for the traffic light to turn into the school; there were also a dozen or more school buses that were mostly empty in the same line. What the hell is wrong with people?
They cant cut out a day because the money from the state is based on days the kids come to school and here it is measured on one period(specifically second period, at least here), so... this means two half days that include the second period attendance to get their hand out from the state. I'm sure someone did the math and they make more from the state on that day they would loose compared to the amount it costs to run the buses. Sadly we are within the distance that is required to get bus service. And not that our child couldn't walk, but as she is a fifteen yr old female we don't feel it is safe to let her. We have the money to drop her and pick her. I don't see it as a problem. I think it falls under good parenting not to pout her in a situation that could turn out fatally wrong. Not sure why ya'll are worried about what others spend their money on. They are keeping someone else in a job.
All I was complainin bout was un-necessary idlin.... The day may come that half the cars in WalMart parking lot will be running while people shop for stuff they don't need.....
Some of those parents may not have a choice in the matter in regards to picking up their kids. My business partner's son is 10, in the fifth grade. The school is TWO blocks away from our shop, but he is not allowed to walk to it. Apperently the district has a rule, 5th grade and under must be picked up if not on a bus. He actually has to wait to hear his son's name called by the person in charge so he can raise his hand for the school to releace him.
The 28 day cycle must hit you the hardest! The same could be said for public transportation. Lots of folks qould rather be caught dead than on a city bus..
My son attends a charter school which does not have bus service and it is 12 miles each way, so we waste close to 2 hours a day tangled up in that mess. Only a 20 minute window to enter and the same at pickup or you get fine like $5 MINUTE if you are late. Here you might get caught dead on public transportation. That is a cess pool of criminal activity with a no firearms policy.
A comment on idling at stop lights..................in 2017 Ford Escapes came with engines that actually turn off whenever the vehicle comes to a complete stop like at traffic lights. The engine stays off as long as the foot is on the brake and when the brake is released the vehicle starts back up instantly before the accelerator is pressed. There is an override switch on the dash that can disable this feature. I wonder how many other vehicles have this feature now?
Every car I know of....turn the key or press button....been doing it for years. A couple 3-4 min lights around here. These days everyone wants things automatically done for them.
At my daughter's South Florida soccer practice. Actually hung out for once -- brought the dog and took him for a long walk. Two moms in SUV's talking to each other through open windows for 1-1/2 hours with engines running. Wow. Just wow.
I'm starting to think it's a security thing....knowing that motor is running makes them feel better? Like it is alive? And a lot of the time people leave it in gear. One of my sons can't keep a trans in a car....goes thru drive thru and keeps it in gear. Lots of heat build up if you know how a trans works. Driving down the road on/off gas and brake...try to explain that he is locking/unlocking converter every time he his the brakes but no use. At least now I don't pay for the repairs.....usually.
I believe most cars are going to have this within the next few years. I wonder when how long the starters are going to last with all of the restarts at each signal. Maybe part of the reason people don't turn their cars off is because they run so quiet and smooth now, no rumble of an exhaust and very little exhaust smell. Even my kids can smell an old car exhaust and tell if there is a classic car in the area when sitting at a light. I remember when I was traveling to Japan (Tokyo) and at night the drivers at the front of the line at a stop light would turn their head lights off while waiting, I believe they also turned their cars off. The cab drivers had radar detectors that would say "slow, down, too fast" in a Japanese woman's voice in English even though most of them could not speak or understand English, had to laugh about that.
Got a 13-screen drive in movie complex in Ft Laud. Lots of people sit outside their cars in chairs, in beds of trucks, etc. But there are ALWAYS people in their cars with engine and AC running, whether it is 85, 75, 65, or 55 degrees. Have even seen idiots outside of cars with engines running. Yeah, save $6 total on admission, but burn gas and put wear and tear on the engine. Just go to a regular theater, you dopes!
Here you go whiners! https://www.bing.com/images/search?...607986313093907779&selectedIndex=0&ajaxhist=0 Bob H.
