Driving to walk the dogs

[MrsT1704]

Can anyone direct me to where I can find legislation that says that you cannot drive to a location to walk the dogs or for your exercise. I have not heard this mentioned anywhere else other than from the police who are saying they are going to start fining people.

I walked my dogs around my area the other day and bumped into around 9 groups of people and it was impossible to stay 2 meters apart.

Went for a walk in a forest yesterday and Didn’t see a soul. I’m not driving many many miles, just up the road and just don’t get how walking around the local streets and not being able to socially distance is safer than driving a short distance to walk them in isolation.

I get that people are saying that driving could contribute to accidents but I think that driving up the road and crashing the car or breaking down is much less likely that passing on the virus whilst passing someone on the street that you cannot distance yourself from

I am also a health worker and exposed to Coronavirus on a daily basis without appropriate PPE (which we have complained about but seem to get nowhere due to lack of supplies) and walking around the streets and passing people without 2m distance would put them at much higher risk as it is highly likely I could be carrying it and pass it on

Common sense seems to have gone out the window.

I think it's all about using your common sense.

And therin lies the rub....

You and the OP may well be able to use common sense, but as demonstrated on Mother's Day and the crowds at the coast/national parks there are a hugely significant number of people who can't.

That's why we are in lockdown.

How do you write guidelines to keep everyone safe and then say that these exemptions only apply to people with common sense - if you're an idiot you stay at home?

People have a very broad sense of what's appropriate behaviour - just look at this thread. The OP thinks driving a few miles is ok. Another poster is driving for an hour to walk her dogs.

Look at the number of threads talking about kids playing outside in groups still and neighbourhood parties.

The rules need to apply to everyone to ensure there aren't exemptions for people without common sense to exploit.

I seem to have misinterpreted the rules here.(cant seem to find this link ATM) I usually take my dog out in the car which isnt too far ,more for time commitments than anything else .I can walk there(live in the suburbs) and will do so from now on .However what about people who live in the centre of town ?How do they get fresh air and exercise in the middle of a busy street?

So would people choose driving down the road to the woods or walking down the roads to the woods? Yes common sense does come into it because people are unclear about using their car for short journeys such as these. The rules are very clear however about socialising.

The government has just clarified this - see latest update on Guardian live feed.

There is no rule against driving somewhere, but they are clearly relying on people to apply common sense as to what is 'necessary' - so a five minute drive on local roads presumably better than an hour's drive on a motorway to a major beauty spot.

You're proving my point. There is no logic, or science to your argument. Just think about how viruses spread and use that to guide your avoidance behaviour.

This is ridiculous. Just follow the rules FFS. You're really trying to justify going out during a lockdown, sitting on a bench and eating your sandwich? You're supposed to be locked down, not sitting on benches which have then been touched and then potentially spread the virus. You're not supposed to touch anything. Stay at your own home other than to exercise (with or without dog - your choice) without travelling since this is clearly not essential travel!

Anyway this was made very clear on the BBC this morning and so may well be officially clarified further in upcoming press conferences.

Theres a field that backs onto my back garden, where I walk my dogs each day. It's usually empty most of the time. Since lock down I've never seen so many ppl there, clearly ppl who don't usually come here but think that it'll be empty. I've seen a couple of seperate ppl driving here. They must have passed other parks and grassy areas to get here. Now it's making it more difficult for me to socially distance to exercise and walk my dogs. Based on this I'd say no, don't drive somewhere to walk your dogs or exercise, as you think it'll be quiet but everyone else will have the same idea.

Government guidance just been updated and says stay local where possible. Do not travel unnecessarily.

I suspect the "special people" will now say "well it says where possible and for me there's nowhere nice so it isn't possible" and "it says don't travel unnecessarily but for me driving an hour is necessary".

No. The only exercise allowed at the moment is 'walking, running or cycling'.
A car can only be used for 'essential travel'

Link please.

This was posted on a thread yesterday.

[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-guidance-on-access-to-green-spaces]

Link

They have said NO non essential journeys. Why do you think you would be exempt?

It also says if you have a garden you should make use of this space for exercise and fresh air.

That’s the supposed fake one doing the rounds. I meant a link from government clarifying in no uncertain terms that you definitely can’t drive a short distance for exercise if it’s a more sensible option than out your back door.

Link not working

www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-guidance-on-access-to-green-spaces

Anyone can google though..

Flax that's completely wrong.

The Regulations are here: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/pdfs/uksi_20200350_en.pdf

Relevant one is Reg 6. You can only leave your house with reasonable excuse, one of which is exercise. Exercise isn't limited to walking, running or cycling.

And there's no mention of a car only being used for essential travel - but obviously you can't use the car unless leaving your house when you have reasonable excuse.

Ah stay local so you can get into the car and go two minutes down the road. That’s local.

@Flaxmeadow
No. The only exercise allowed at the moment is 'walking, running or cycling'.

You need to actually read what HMGov said. Not what your head has retained or interpreted or simplified, but what was actually stated by HMGov.

Try not to post on public forums until you have done so.

Ah stay local so you can get into the car and go two minutes down the road. That’s local

And there you go. See my earlier post..

Hasa that's the difference between guidance and law.

The Regulations are law - you must not leave your house without reasonable excuse, otherwise you are committing an offence and can be fined.

Guidance - we would like you to follow these suggestions please, but can't enforce them.

If its two minutes down the road why on earth do you need to get into the car

I live in a beauty spot. It's normally quiet, with a small, mostly elderly, population, but over the last week or so we have been inundated with people driving in to walk their dogs or take their kids somewhere prettier than whatever they live. They all think they're the only ones who have had this idea. It is selfish and shortsighted.

The law a few days ago was different to the law today.

Restrictions on movement
6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.

Exercise is one reasonable excuse
Traveling to work if you are an essential worker is another reasonable excuse
There are more..
BUT
Driving to the woods because you are special is not a reasonable excuse

If you are bored, why not read the legislation
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/pdfs/uksi_20200350_en.pdf

4 miles too far to walk for dd and driving saves contact.