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.

you're in a wheelchair is it reasonable to leave the house to go around the streets and back again, maintaining a distance from other people of course, as technically you're not exercising?

Yes. You’re getting healthy fresh air.

I have heard that there is a chance of issues with getting garages restocked with petrol so I suggest people don't use their cars for anything other than essential journeys or we may end up with not enough to keep the essential workers vehicles on the road.

It is being selfish to keep using your car when you have been asked not to take any non essential journeys. Walking a dog is not essential.

That is nonsense and scaremongering.

Prices are going down, loads are self service.

Walking a dog is not essential?
You have got to be kidding?

Viva... hypothetical? I am in a wheelchair but it occurred to me after reading this thread what people would think of me if I'm out and not in the garden and it then got me questioning whether I should be out when its just for a change of scene as it's not essential. I can see why so many people are confused.

The guidelines are to exercise close to home and not drive to exercise where ( reasonably) possible. The driving bit is to stop people congregating in large numbers as everyone decides to go to the same. We will be driving to somewhere nearby to a private outside space for the safety of our disabled child. It is actually walkable but he can't walk that far.

nixby sorry, it read to me that you weren’t talking about yourself.

Nixby I absolutely think that wheelchair users should be able to go outside and get some fresh air once a day like anyone else.

Obviously, depending on circumstances some wheelchair users will absolutely get exercise.

However those that don't shouldn't be exempt from benefiting from getting outside if they want to/are not self isolating.

Interesting to see all the replies and I see that nothing official has been said about travelling to walk dogs/exercise and I will continue to do so until the law states otherwise!

Very scary how many people have already forgotten the main reason for lock down which is to stop the virus spreading! Not to blindly follow rules that do the exact opposite!

It has now been clarified that you shouldn’t be driving to walk your dog. It’s not just about preventing the spread of the virus but also to reduce the chance of RTA’s.

I know it’s a PITA, I really do. I’ve got a high energy breed and he’ll now have to be kept on lead.