Allowed to drive to places? I’ve missed it!

[Heismyopendoor]

I’m sure I read on here that rules/guidelines have changed regarding disabled people and that if you are disabled or caring for a disabled person you are now allowed to drive somewhere that allows them/yourself to exercise.

Can anyone link me to an article or video announcement on this please?

I've seen that in relation to children with special needs, not disabled people per se. Sorry no link.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

That should help.

@HalfDutchGirl there isn’t anything about the new update on that unfortunately. I have googled but not having much luck.

@Pipandmum that’s good as my DS has a lot of special needs.

Here you go OP: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/uk-coronavirus-rules-autism-learning-disabilities-lockdown

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/14/uk-coronavirus-rules-autism-learning-disabilities-lockdown

It will also include adults with relevant disabilities.

Thank you

You can drive to exercise full stop. Autism or not.

@somebodysringingabell can you link that? I was under the impression you weren’t allowed. All the car parks next to green space around here have been closed.

There is no specific rule saying you cannot drive to exercise. People have just interpreted the rules as such. Some ministers have been quoted saying you should stay local to exercise etc etc but in the actual government blurb there is nothing about not driving.

Yes anyone can drive to exercise.

I caught an interview on the BBC about a week ago I can’t remember who with where they said you could drive somewhere to exercise locally. I only remember it because it took me by surprise. Think it was some q&a they were doing.

This is from the government website, I’ve just had a look....

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiO6qzglevoAhXhQEEAHUcnDcoQFjAAegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw2TGvBnKDHW7_Xf1DzKgYnT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiO6qzglevoAhXhQEEAHUcnDcoQFjAAegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw2TGvBnKDHW7_Xf1DzKgYnT

Offiicial Police guidance for England. Loads of things people think are 'against the roolz' are fine. Driving to exercise, resting or having lunch during a long walk, going to the shops just for a newspaper etc

It doesn’t actually say you can’t drive, just try to stay local..

You can drive a "reasonable distance" to exercise, regardless of disability
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/31/uk-police-reissued-with-guidance-on-enforcing-coronavirus-lockdown

What "reasonable" isn't defined, though I would imagine 50 miles to a national park isn't reasonable, but 2 miles down the road is.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiH6u3sturoAhWhmFwKHWaSCUcQFjAAegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw2TGvBnKDHW7_Xf1DzKgYnT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiH6u3sturoAhWhmFwKHWaSCUcQFjAAegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw2TGvBnKDHW7_Xf1DzKgYnT

This is the police advice for England which states it is not unlawful to drive to exercise. Clearly they don’t want to encourage it but it is not unlawful.

I had a friend doing weights in a park alone and she was told to move in by the police because she was not running or cycling. Another example of the police taking liberties with the advice and that’s when the respect breaks down honestly.

The guidelines say "we advise you to stay local near your home WHERE POSSIBLE and do not drive unnecessarily".

I have three kids under 5 and live on an A road that's busy even now. If we walk in any direction for 20 mins, we are by roads the whole time. So I put them in the car and drive somewhere quiet. It's safer for them not walking next to main roads, or having the little two stuck in the buggy and unable to get out and exercise. I think there "where possible" part is where we need to use our common sense here.

It's all about avoiding crowds gathering, that's what slows the spread of the virus, not strict adherence to specific rules, whether real, or made up.

Official car parks in beauty spots attract crowds, which is why they are closed. Driving a few miles along an A road with no footpath so you can park in a layby or other safe place is allowed because it's unlikely to become crowded. Same for some beaches - no to official carparks near to 'town beaches' or others where lots of people go to the same place. But if there's a quiet beach within a few miles of your house that you know of where people don't generally congregate and there's somewhere safe to park, that's fine.

Of course, the responsible thing to do would be to go at quiet times of day, and if you got to your destination and found that there was a lot of people there, to go home or somewhere else.

I drove somewhere to exercise yesterday (20 minutes away). Carpark on edge of tiny village you never heard of. Nobody was there. That's why I chose it. Knew I could easily maintain zero contact. I had done something very similar 5 days before at slightly busier location, where a police car saw me park & set off, but those coppers said nothing.

Norfolk Constabulary came to my door last night to say that "travel" to take exercise is NOT allowed. They took my name, DoB & said I would be fined if I did it again. They insisted these are the definite rules. They actually mean "use of a motor vehicle" not "travel", but whatever.

I am still upset. I guess I should add it to the giant heap of Shit for Mental Health that is Lockdown.

DH used the opportunity to yammer at the police at our door about a soapbox issue of his, for at least 10 minutes. I hope the busybody who reported me would be delighted with that use of police time.

Wow @ZeroSumTrap that’s awful!!

I live in South Norfolk and we have a LOT of busy bodies here with nothing better to do than report people for things that aren’t even spreading the virus! It’s ridiculous. I am shocked the police actually came to your house. As people can see from the links above you weren’t actually doing anything wrong!

We’ve had people on our local community Facebook page telling others off for going for a walk as a family (!), for daring to cut their own grass etc etc. It’s crazy. People don’t even seem to know the rules!

@ZeroSumTrap,I would be putting in a complaint about that!!!

You are allowed to drive for exercise,as long as it is locally.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj9_sCF6OzoAhWMfMAKHShADRUQFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw2TGvBnKDHW7_Xf1DzKgYnT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj9_sCF6OzoAhWMfMAKHShADRUQFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw2TGvBnKDHW7_Xf1DzKgYnT

@ZeroSumTrap Norfolk Constabulary are fucking lying. See above.

This is from the Gov website about exercising and disabilities

www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf

ZeroSumTrap Similar happened to my dad in England. Some curtain twitcher phoned in to denounce him for driving a short distance to walk his dog in a wood and the copper turned up and threatened to fine him. He did then admit that what he was saying was 'advisory', meaning of course that there were no grounds to issue any fine.

If I were you I'd definitely complain about being hassled by the police when you'd done nothing wrong. They're talking rubbish, they can't fine you. I can't believe they actually came to your home! With my dad he was just waiting by the car and had put some police tape on it for some reason.