I'm not bothered whether it's legal or not. I don't see the police much at 2.30am on my driveway in my quiet residential street when I'm going to work. I also don't see anyone else much at that time either so the chances of the car getting nicked in my opinion are very low. Even lower with the doors locked. BTW is it illegal for skip lorry driver etc to exit his cab to operate the mechanism? It really is becoming like east Germany here... Your paperz pleeze!
According to AA research, more than 16 per cent of motorists admit to warming their cars on frosty mornings by leaving the engine running.
The AA points out that cars are already disappearing this winter from outside private homes. Says Clare Salmon, managing director of AA Financial Services: “Just before Christmas, 15 cars were stolen in Manchester on one frosty morning – in each case because the engine was conveniently left running, ready to be driven away."
“Car theft using the owners' ignition keys is a fast growing problem. Locks and immobilisers are becoming increasingly sophisticated so the only way to steal many cars is to use the keys. Thieves welcome icy mornings when so many people simply offer an open invitation for their car to be stolen.”
Some insurers believe that up to one in 10 stolen cars are taken because they have been left unlocked with the keys conveniently in the ignition. According to Home Office statistics, just under half of the 314,000 cars that are stolen in the UK each year are taken from outside their owners' homes. 12 per cent of all car thefts involve the use of car keys.
And if your car is stolen while it's warming up, you are likely to get a frosty reception from your insurance company. Says Salmon: “Most car insurance policies will not cover theft of your car if it has been left unlocked with the keys in the ignition yet 14 per cent of motorists in our survey didn't realise this."
“Leaving the engine running to warm the car up while you go back indoors to warm yourself up with a cup of tea is taking a huge risk – it's amazing how many people do it.”
Good luck to you. Its not about being a nanny state its common sense.
Its no different to leaving 5 grand or whatever your car cost on your door step while you have a cup of tea before going to work and hoping it is still there when you go back out. You may not see any coppers at 2am round your way but i can guarantee you that thieves don't clock off at midnight.
But its your car, You do what you like with it.
i start work very early in the morning,so i do get a frosty reception when going to warm up my car,but im there throughout the whole thing(usally with a cup of tea and a smoke..lol)but i never leave it alone,even though its 3am...
