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Original poster

Going for a drive

141 replies

Glovesick · 09/04/2020 14:44

I have seen someone got fined for going for a drive to break the boredom.

I know it's not essential travel but I don't really get why it is banned. As long as you don't get out, there is no risk of infection.

Suppose that would be difficult to police and also small risk of accidents would divert emergency services.

On the other hand, it is low risk and people's mental health is also important.

Views?

OP posts:
Fifthtimelucky · 09/04/2020 17:01

I have had a long drive today, to a seaside town and back (about 4.5 hours round trip). Before anyone has a go, it was my mother in law's funeral. We kept things as small as we could and my husband and I were the only two mourners.

Some roads were very quiet, especially on the way there (we left before 9am and arrived just after 11). We were surprised at just how busy it was coming home a couple of hours later.

For the record, no one seemed to be speeding any more than they usually do (probably 80 max on the main dual carriageway).

The only other trip we have done in the car since lockdown started was one trip to the supermarket. Car batteries are being charged up to stop them going flat.

Minesacider · 09/04/2020 17:11

I wouldn't. It is unnecessary, we've been asked not to do it.

On a trip to the supermarket last week I saw a guy who had somehow driven his car up and into a roundabout. He wasnt injured, didnt appear to be drunk - in that, he hadn't been taken into the back of a police car, they were standing speaking to him seemingly pleasantly. But it just brought home to me that daft accidents can and do happen everywhere, and this man's accident meant the police had to attend to him, and a recovery vehicle needed. I think there were two police cars, so that was two cars and however many officers less available elsewhere, thankfully no ambulance was needed this time.

1Morewineplease · 09/04/2020 17:15

I think I might be missing the point... I thought that the Government, using scientific advice , urged us all to stay at home to limit the spread of the virus. I’m pretty sure that the Government, at no point , said that it would be ok to get in the car and go for a nice drive, whenever you want, to soothe your mental health problems. Clearly the police, in the Lake District, had absolutely no right to stop hundreds of families from driving into the area from as far afield as Devon who just wanted to drive around and look at the pretty scenery for the sake of their mental well-being.
Hmmm...

RarePackOfLooRoll · 09/04/2020 17:18

It's not allowed to reduce the potential risk of something like this happening. However small the risk is, it's still a risk. I don't e left anyone involved in this incident this afternoon thought this was very likely to happen, but it did.

Now resources and people are being wasted dealing with this instead of other stuff.
www.devonlive.com/news/local-news/live-m5-caravan-crash-devon-4031661?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

Sereyus · 09/04/2020 17:20

People driving and going about their own business really isn't something I can be bothered to get worked up about.

But we are in lockdown so a lot more people have way too much time on their handsHmm

crimsonlake · 09/04/2020 17:20

I agree if one does it everyone will be doing it then where will we be?
I still have to go to work and use the motorway. I have been shocked at the amount of traffic still on the road and horrified that some idiots have completely stopped indicating and now drive as if they are on a racing track. It is really scarey.

MintyMabel · 09/04/2020 17:22

It's because it invalidates your insurance.

So now we’re just making things up?

clareOclareO · 09/04/2020 17:22

You can only leave your home for buying food, medical reasons, travel to work that can't be done at home, or one piece of daily exercise.

You can't leave your home for any other reason.

If someone is driving for the pleasure of it, that is not a valid reason. It really is quite simple.

Pokkadots · 09/04/2020 17:24

If you crash/breakdown. Look at the clips on the M5 caravan crash.

Cornishclio · 09/04/2020 17:26

Supposing we all go off for a drive? Clogging up the roads, increasing the risk of accidents, traffic Jams, calling into service stations and petrol stations etc. It is the thin end of the wedge and some people are continually trying to push the boundaries. It is not difficult to understand. Essential journeys for food and medications only and one form of exercise. A pleasure drive does not fall within those exceptions to lockdown. We all want to see an end to this so for gods sake just do what you are supposed to like the rest of us.

ssd · 09/04/2020 17:29

I thought going for a drive was banned now?

Rebelwithallthecause · 09/04/2020 17:29

I will continue to check that my car starts and drives properly at least once every 2 weeks during lockdown to ensure I am still able to get to hospital when I’m in labour (due soon)
It’s a diesel so you can’t just start it on the drive and shut it off again as that does it no good

ssd · 09/04/2020 17:31

Mind you, some folk round here are driving like lunatics. What's that all about? It's like they all have road rage but the roads are empty.

RarePackOfLooRoll · 09/04/2020 17:31

Why can people not just do what they are told. Stay home. Why the constant need to find a loophole and find a way to.cheat the system.

I totally get the going Bashir stuck at home. I het the eisk is minimal but i dont get the middle finger up to NHS workers and everyone else who is staying home as told no matter how fucking bored , upswt, angry amd pissed off we are.

People doing this kind if thing, juatifyingbit because it's low risk aren't really being very thoughtful to many others. It's a real fuck you to.so many people. I just don't get how people can try and justify it.

yatapina · 09/04/2020 17:31

I live in NE Scotland. I've been stopped twice in the last 10 days to ask where I'm going.

I produce my work permit and they are able to phone my manager to ensure that my times are correct.

What would you tell them if they stopped you?

Merrymumoftwo · 09/04/2020 17:32

Did I read recently that New Zealand and now Australia are almost out of lockdown because they were strict. In the case of New Zealand the infection rates are low?

dottiedodah · 09/04/2020 17:34

Where we live we are within walking distance of the River, Parks and woods .We usually drive 10 /15 minutes to the beaches nearby ,Obviously this is not possible at present .Police are patrolling the Seafront and moving Sunbathers on .Yes I miss going and I miss going for a drive as well ,like 99% of people .1% seem to have missed the point that it was everyone in the UK including them FFS!

Merrymumoftwo · 09/04/2020 17:38

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-new-zealand-on-track-to-eliminate-covid-19-n2nr6k0z3
This is one article on it

ErrolTheDragon · 09/04/2020 17:45

Doesn't NZ have high standards of bio security at its points of entry anyway - I seem to remember someone telling me they were fumigated or similar when they flew there. I'm not sure if it was to protect their agriculture or their particularly special wildlife. That sort of mindset probably helps a lot.

Apple1029 · 09/04/2020 17:47

*More chance of accidents, extra need to fill the car up, more temptation to drive to places for exercise.

What the fuck is the problem on MN, there are rules, follow them. There is no need for the desperate search for loopholes.*

This. I'm not in the UK and we have a strict lockdown, you need a permit to leave your home for even buying food.
Purely because of idiots who thought they were clever and tried things like this.

Parky04 · 09/04/2020 17:49

A driver who crashed into a fence has been criticised by police who claim the motorist went for a drive because they were bored with the coronavirus lockdown. - Essex Police

Pictures show the Ford Fiesta tangled in a metal fence in Chelmsford in Essex.

They also show rubbish strewn around, as the car appears to have hit a bin during the crash.

Writing on Twitter, the county's policing team said: "Driver of this car was bored so went out for a drive!

"Us and the ambulance crew are both really busy and don't need extra work. Another person breaching the regulations.

"Please don't. Please stay home. Driver has been reported."

ChibiTotoro · 09/04/2020 17:51

@catfeets I can assure that the police are going around and breaking up parties, a quick look at any media page or the social media pages of a police force will I'm sure confirm this.
The police were already stretched before this happened and despite what you might think crime keeps occurring, murders still need investigating, commercial burglary and domestic violence is on the increase. Unfortunately criminals don't just stay home because the government has reduced movement. What I think is ridiculous is that people need to be told by the police not to do these things.

bettybattenburg · 09/04/2020 17:51

Doesn't NZ have high standards of bio security at its points of entry anyway

Yes, they confiscate stuff and every person going in to the country has to fill in a questionnaire and they check your bags. My son once left some food in his bag, they were lovely to him about it but took it off him and threw it away. There are detector dogs to identify anything in your bags and you have to declare any food, plants, animals and animal products, any equipment that you've used for things like gardening, swimming in the sea, fishing etc and anything like camping gear, hiking boots.

HaudMaDug · 09/04/2020 17:54

Just because you are a careful driver, there are plenty of idiots out there thinking they won't meet anybody on the road so taking huge risks. 20 year old woman stopped doing 120mph on A9 north of Inverness thinking she could get away with it.
Her passenger also got nicked for having no valid reason to be out.

Merrymumoftwo · 09/04/2020 18:16

Reading further NZ were quicker to implement a lot of things such as all visitors had to isolate for two weeks. Stopping cruises, higher number of testing. This together with a strict lockdown has seemed to assist in dealing with Corona