To remind you to turn your car over every now and then

[DuckyMcDuck]

Friend's DH works for a breakdown company and they're getting loads of calls to dead batteries from cars that are only being started once in a while when people need to go shopping.

Please don't! You will either end up going on a unnecessary and not allowed journey, or flatten it by turning it on and off. Unless you have a particularly old or temperamental battery, it should be fine for weeks.

I have an auto and didn't drive it for 6+ weeks numerous times last year although I forgot about the battery draining thing tbh! I do also regularly leave it 2 or so weeks without driving (only really need it to go to parents) and it's yet to go flat but don't know if I'm just lucky!

I'm in London so don't often get the chance to give it a fast drive and it seems to be ok going a couple of months or more on just slow trips

Should they stay in too and not drive their cars for days on end?

Well, no, because their journeys are necessary

All I'm saying is what my local force are doing. Not saying I agree with it or think it's right, but it is what it is. People making unnecessary journeys are being spoken to and fined if it's deemed appropriate.

There may not be a specific law that says "don't drive" but police do currently have the power to fine people who are out without a good reason. If you want to take the risk of being fined, that's your lookout, but let's not pretend they don't have those powers.

Luckily I have a battery charger from owning my last vehicle which was v temperamental. I'll take my chances with that when the time comes that I have to drive this car anywhere essential, should the battery have gone flat.

I think part of the huge inquiry that will take place when this is all over will be about some police forces abusing their powers, particularly when they’ve been pleading poverty. If I lived in Derbyshire I’d be taking a very dim view of how the police component of my council tax was being spent.

You man always drive your car in a small
Circle around your home. That way if it breaks down you can just pull over and park and walk home.

A trickle charger is fairly inexpensive if you have garage or drive parking. I don't so I keep a jump starter (from Halfords) in the boot.

If you want to take the risk of being fined, that's your lookout, but let's not pretend they don't have those powers

I didnt dispute that. My point was simply that the police up and down the country simply cannot enforce these edicts because they dont have the resources - and thus driving one's car to ensure it is both kept roadworthy and ready to drive is far more important than their inane "judge/jury/executioner" approach to raising money from fines.

I'm a key worker. I have to drive.

I couldnt give a hoot what the Police may or may not think about my journey. They dont own my thoughts and what I consider to be a necessary journey, even if they think otherwise.

No doubt other key workers across vital services think the same.

Otherwise they wouldnt be out driving would they?

@FartingInTheFence nobody's saying key workers shouldn't drive to get to work or that people shouldn't drive to get to the shops...

People are saying that taking the car out for a drive/spin is being considered unnecessary by most police forces, that's all, and that there are fines attached to that.

Our force has already handed out fines to people for breaches of the government lockdown.

*People are saying that taking the car out for a drive/spin is being considered unnecessary by most police forces, that's all, and that there are fines attached to that.

Our force has already handed out fines to people for breaches of the government lockdown*

And yet, driving per se, is not in any recent legislation, prohibited.

So clearly, over-zealous police are exploiting this scenario.

You want to see what will happen next if these terrorising police are not reined in?

Here you go:

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-italy-becoming-impatient-with-lockdown-and-social-unrest-is-brewing-11965122

I think part of the huge inquiry that will take place when this is all over will be about some police forces abusing their powers, particularly when they’ve been pleading poverty. If I lived in Derbyshire I’d be taking a very dim view of how the police component of my council tax was being spent.

Completely agree

What they really need is a decent drive not just to the shops and back, repeated short journeys use more battery power than they provide. Ideally a half an hour drive is needed but obviously that's not great at the moment.

I found this out yesterday when I tried to move mine to a different bit of the driveway. Luckily DH had a battery booster thing that got it started but then it died again. He was going to use his jump leads but then realised that his was facing down towards the closed gate, right at the gate, with mine directly behind! And the gate opens inwards. Thankfully the battery booster got it working again and it's fine but someone will need to drive it soon

Mine was dead this morning, used it once on Friday for 5 minutes, before that, was almost 17 days ago..

Greenflag fixed me this morning but ill be turning it over every morning for 10 minutes now so I don't fall foul again of the dreaded flat battery

Over-zealous Nazi police just itching to get out.....

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/mar/30/uk-police-guidelines-coronavirus-lockdown-enforcement-powers-following-criticism-lord-sumption

I started a thread yesterday asking if I should taket my car for a drive and got mostly short shrift! [big grin]

Of course you would on MN, because it's NOT ESSENTIAL. Well, I'd bloody argue it is. What if you have to do an emergency trip to hospital (not CV related and not bad enough for 999 before anyone says) and you try and start the car and the battery is dead. So to me it's essential to keep your mode of transport working.

I'll get my hard hat ready for the onslaught.

Over-zealous Nazi police just itching to get out.....

Godwin's Law!

🙄