Can I drive 5 miles to walk in the woods?

[R2221]

Just that really. We’ve been isolating for over a week and these woods are the only thing that kept us sane. Isolated woods - not many people there. Those we came across were mindful of distance.

With the current lockdown rules, are we allowed to drive there?

Nope, because it is electric and plugs into my garage.

Ah that's ok then. You're obviously not going much further than 5 miles anyway.

Phew @U2HasTheEdge glad we are still in agreement . Sleep well.

That people are under the impression that using a car cannot spread the virus

That's not true. They know they can spread the virus, but it won't affect them so they just don't care.

Yes but every time you travel, however you travel, however low the risk... you are adding a risk. As they say, it is not your risk to take, if there is even a minimal chance it could make others sick.

I think I’m being sensitive as last year I saw someone gasp their last breaths and genuinely feel sick at the thought of any you having to go through the same. The death rattle is grotesque. I feel those who aren’t taking this seriously have never seen death first hand, or been left ravaged by grief.

Hindsight is a terrible thing. My friend is a hospice nurse and is helping at the local hospital, she says it’s inevitable most will die at home soon - but at least the dying won’t be alone. We should do all we can to flatten the curve, we don’t want to lose any more people here. One that’s shocking me is in the hamlet one of the ladies taken sick is a young 50 something - in the yoga club, super healthy, in a big happy family. She was taken by ambulance and obviously her family can’t see her now.

Sorry for blathering, we’re a community in shock to be honest. It’s so weird seeing posts like “can we drive for a walk”, as we’re all doing everything we can to limit this virus and it’s mind blowing others aren’t doing the same.

How does using a car spread the virus?

That people are under the impression that using a car cannot spread the virus

Yes, obviously that was what you were saying with your little emoji @flaxmeasow. I meant please use your words to explain how using a car spreads the virus. Not driving to a place where you come into contact with people, not driving to a place where you touch something that has virus on it. Not sharing your car with someone outside your household. Plain and simple, using the car. How does that spread it?

That's not true. They know they can spread the virus, but it won't affect them so they just don't care.

Yes sadly

While you stayed home, someone sneezed through your letter box, your child gets ill.
Was staying home worth it?

Steer clear of risky rural roads to help our NHS workers warns road safety charity
News from Brake
Monday 23 March 2020

Road safety charity, Brake, is warning drivers to steer clear of risky rural roads unless essential, so that they don’t increase the burden on the NHS by being involved in a fatal or serious crash. The warning comes after people across the UK flocked to the countryside over the weekend, increasing traffic levels on the roads which carry the most risk of death and serious injury.

Rural roads are the most dangerous roads in Britain, with more than half (58%) of all road deaths occurring on them. In 2018, 1,030 people were killed on rural roads - an average of three people every day, with government data also showing that car users are more than 3 times more likely to be killed, and a third more likely to be seriously injured, on rural roads compared to urban roads. [1][2]

Crashes on rural roads are often speed related, such as collisions at intersections, head-on collisions or running off the road. Research by Brake and Direct Line has found that almost 7 in 10 drivers think it is acceptable to drive over the speed limit on rural roads, highlighting the danger drivers might be putting themselves and others in by contributing to increased traffic on rural roads. [4]

Single-carriageway rural roads, of which there are many leading to the UK’s beauty spots, pose a particular risk as they are often narrow, with blind bends, no pavements or cycle paths and with traffic travelling at high speeds, head-on, with no carriageway separation. In 2018, 10% of cars exceeded the limit on 60mph single carriageway roads, irresponsible and dangerous behaviour which would leave little or no time to stop and avoid a hazard – at the 60mph national speed limit a driver's stopping distance is 73 metres, or about the length of three tennis courts [3].

To avoid any extra burden on the NHS, Brake is warning people not to travel unless absolutely essential and urging those that do have to travel to stay well within the speed limit and be aware of unexpected hazards and other road users at all times.

Commenting, Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for Brake, said: “In times of national crisis we must all come together and do what we can to help keep everyone safe. Unless absolutely essential, we urge everyone to stop driving on our risky rural roads to the countryside - you are putting yourself at increased risk of being killed or injured in a road crash and of adding to the burden on our NHS. We would advise everyone to stay at home and stay safe, but if you absolutely must travel, stay well within the speed limit and be prepared for unexpected hazards at all times.”

I could walk there, it would take 45 mins or so but I figure I would pass about 10 houses on the way (on country lanes) so being in car would result in less potential exposure. Maybe Boris should have said don't wonder more than a few hundred metres from your home on foot. Anyone thinking of buying a goat?

Pedantic Interlude..I really wish people would stop saying 'stay home' instead of 'stay at home'.

5 miles away, so a 10 mile round trip. You say you won’t go every day, so around 40 miles a week. Nearly 500 miles over 3 months. And yeah naturally you don’t think you’ll break down on a 5 mile trip, but when hundreds of thousands of people are still doing 500 miles during this time, there will be many many breakdowns. The breakdown services will already but putting themselves at risk to help people travelling for essential reasons (essential work, food shops etc), they do not need loads of people adding to that with non essential journeys. The risk seems small but it adds up. Please please just stay at home and find something you can just walk to, even if it’s early morning/late evening. Most places, as long as everyone stays in the place they live, would be able to accommodate people walking 2 metres apart, even if a few people are walking at the same time as you.

Don’t worry - they’ll get tougher on this in a few days when people don't think rules apply to them. Idiots.

It does give us a chance to rant but hopefully it a controlled way!

Can I drive 100 miles to the beach? It will be deserted. No one will sneeze on me.

FFS

Just to clarify...was a distance from home set for exercise in the speech? Did it say that you had to walk to or for your exercise within 50m...I think that was the limit somewhere.

Also will the car use restrictions mean that everyone can only go to a very local supermarket and if you don't have one...well tough?

I think it's sad in the sense that many will not be able to go outdoors at all now then. Most people don't have anyway that close to home where they can be away from other people. I worry about elderly people who if they cannot go for a short walk may lose mobility permanently.

As for someone sneezing on a car door handle...happens all the time round here, I wear a glove to open it!

Went for a walk in my area today around the mill pond, with dog. No 2 metre distance here on narrow footpath. Made to feel uncomfortable. Another reason I will be going to the woods.

I'll drive to isolated areas. But actual isolated areas. Not fucking NT or Blenheim palace.

Theres a thousand paths nearish me. I'm in really rural. I'll drive a mile or two, and not see another living soul for my entire walk

Anybody that doesnt understand this isn't lucky enough to live in the middle of fucking nowhere.

Yes, obviously that was what you were saying with your little emoji @flaxmeasow. I meant please use your words to explain how using a car spreads the virus. Not driving to a place where you come into contact with people, not driving to a place where you touch something that has virus on it. Not sharing your car with someone outside your household. Plain and simple, using the car. How does that spread it?

It was a confused emoji.

Using a car spreads the virus because you are touching it, sneezing on it, touching and sneezing inside it. If you get stopped by a police road block, you are putting the emergency services at risk. If anyone else touches it, they are at risk.

The virus is airborne for up to 3 hours, it stays on surfaces for days. You have to use more petrol to go for walks in the courtyside, more risk.

Why would you use your your car unless it was for food or work? As someone else said up thread, it's about reducing risk.

Plain and simple, using the car. How does that spread it?

The place you travel to doesn't have it. They have fewer ICU beds than your city because they have a smaller residential population, despite your neighbour been older and more vulnerable (on average). You travel there, leave your virus on the door handles, coffee shop worktops etc. Local residents touch those surfaces. Local residents get sick and need hospital care.

If you did the same thing within walking distance of your home you'd have less impact. Because by staying within walking distance you are more likely to stay within your local hospital catchment area.

Try living somewhere your nearest ICU was over an hour away. I guarantee you'd be far less blasé about spreading deadly viruses.

That people are under the impression that using a car cannot spread the virus

FFS.

When I am driving to the woods, as in my car is moving, no one is at risk from me (except anyone in my car, but I happen to live with them). Therefore, driving to the woods then walking is no more dangerous than walking around the bloody block as long as I keep my distance and don't go to areas which are heavily populated.

Pedantic Interlude..I really wish people would stop saying 'stay home' instead of 'stay at home'

I googled it. General consensus seems to be that both are grammatically correct.

Remember to factor in a wait when you're waiting for the ambulance and fire brigade. Let's hope you don't have a stroke after your car accident because you need to get to hospital within three hours for the necessary drugs to work and reduce your chances of a permanent brain injury.

A lady was knocked over last week close to the hospital and had to wait 1.5 hours for the ambulance. She sat on the pavement for an hour and a half because she couldn't get up.

General consensus seems to be that both are grammatically correct

2nd Pedantic interlude..i'm not bothered about the grammar Angelica, it's correct for American English but never used to be heard here and it irritates me.

as in my car is moving, no one is at risk from me (except anyone in my car, but I happen to live with them).

The people in your car are more at risk than they would be at home simply because you are driving. The local population are more at risk because you are in the car and driving unnecessarily AND because you could be carrying the virus to their seriously under resourced local hospital. Plus, you are more at risk because if you get sick your nearest hospital is seriously under resourced.

The government guidance is properly clear. Stay the fuck at home.