Anybody else heard about the issuing of passes to be allowed to use a car?

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

I went to pick up our bread order today and was talking to one of the owner/proprietors there. They mainly sell and deliver to cafes, restaurants, pubs etc - basically all of the places that have now been told to close - so they're about to call it a day for the foreseeable.

He told me that one of his regulars who had called to cancel their order had said his wife is a key healthcare worker (not sure if for the NHS or other) and that her employer had been organising/applying for passes for them to display in their cars as proof that they have a genuine legitimate reason to be out in their cars.

Has anybody else heard tell of this? Is it a new measure that they're bringing in? Or is her employer just planning independently in case of a worst-case scenario?

If so, does that mean that anybody without a pass is liable to be stopped by the police/army etc. and questioned as to their purposes for needing to use their car - or just outright banned?

How would they police it? People would just need to say that they're going to the supermarket for food, whether this is true or not (and for many, it would of course be true). Surely travelling in a car alone or only with your family with whom you live at close quarters anyway is the very epitome of social-distancing?

Might they be doing the same for pedestrians too?

Or is this just one wacky employer panicking and not something that's going to be brought in for everybody at all?

Anybody?!

My DH has had to apply for one through his employer. I don’t think they have any inside info though - it’s a just in case measure.

You'll be stopped and questioned, you need to have a good reason. That may be "supermarket shopping". That will be fine unless they see you supermarket shopping every day. In Italy, residents have been downloading and filling in a declaration form which they must produce. I presume this is photographed by the police.

I'll have child contact exchange each week and will carry a copy of the child arrangements order with me. You just need a legitimate reason for essential travel and the best evidence you can manage.

The above is of course theoretical and based on the Italian situation.

My dp has one too, at the moment is a just in case measure I think

This is precisely how rumours and scaremongering starts.

My DM works in a care home and she has been given a pass for her car last week (not NHS). She's in North Wales. Maybe the management can see we will go into lockdown or wants to park wherever/ look more important at supermarkets 🤷‍♀️
Being a key worker is now a status symbol

I don't think it is unreasonable for your mother, she is a key worker and as long as she remains fit and well, will be working hard caring for those who cannot care for themselves. I presume the pass will allow her to park in some places longer than she would otherwise which will help her immensely if, for example, she wants to nip in to a chemist shop or a corner shop, which won't have a car park, to buy necessities.

Issuing passes is a big faff and a huge expense if you think about it.

They'll probably do what other countries have done and stop you to make sure your journey is essential/necessary.

I wouldn't be surprised.
Why do you need to use a car if it isn't essential
We'll need the fuel for deliveries and key workers.
How is this scaremongering?
Nothing scary about staying in, unless you have a house of bad spirits.

All those saying passes have been issued. Who is issuing them? Individual employers through some self designed scheme? Because the government have not announced any form of pass publicly

Why do you need to use a car if it isn't essential

Lots of people live rurally and will need to use their cars to buy food. If the government introduces passes then this needs to be taken into account when they decide what's essential or not.

I’m a key worker in local authority and today have been issued with a letter stating I am authorised to be out as our ID badge alone won’t be enough. Lockdown is coming soon I imagine.

I’m in Scotland, heavily involved in local government response and there is no mention of this yet.

I'm essential nhs worker and not heard about these passes

I've heard about passes being given to a local care hike for young adults with additional needs to explain why they're out. Seems like a matter of time till we all need them. We don't have a printer though!!

My dh was talking to a business associate who wife is a nurse. She has been issued with a pass.

Has anybody else heard tell of this? Is it a new measure that they're bringing in? Or is her employer just planning independently in case of a worst-case scenario?

Sounds like people are reading across from what has happened in the likes of France but I don't see how each organisation in the UK each producing it's own piece of paper perhaps using a John Bull printing set is going to work..maybe they have been given a heads up by HMG, or maybe not...

FWIW the French "pass" system: Immediately lockdown was announced it was also announced that the government had a nationally accepted standard format pass (attestation)..that is downloaded/printed off the government website internet...

You ( everybody) needs one on them every time they leave the house, it is single use, you fill in your personal details and indicate via some tick boxes the reason for your outing - e.g; essential shopping, medical appointment, short walk for exercise, visiting someone who needs assistance..

Plus...for essential workers who cannot work from home

There is second national standard_ attestation that is part completed by your employer and gives the reason why you need to make a journey .

Not heard of this in the UK yet, and people in our house would have heard if it were A Thing. It's not.
There's much mis-info around. Our neighbour works for local auth and was told he could get priority shopping in any supermarket until 12 daily with his work pass. Also Not The Case.

I am a frontline NHS worker in a large London trust. I've not heard anything yet

I'm a key worker, I haven't been told anything by work yet about this.

I am in contact daily with local authorities re Key Workers and have had nothing through about car passes for which my staff would be one of the top priorities. I could issue them with a letter but doubt that would have any value as 'unofficial'.

I have my school lanyard for going to work (in theory - not entirely sure where it is at the moment) but that wouldn't cover me going to the supermarket.

So clearly yet make 'my mates dog knows' in typical MN fashion or employers are making their own badges....

Or it's going to have a regional roll out...

Some employers like to get this kind of thing in order in advance. When there was a fuel shortage in the 90s and rationing was a possibility I had a letter giving me access to petrol as a key worker (teacher). It never happened though.