DS taking car out once a week - acceptable?

[fourpeasinapod]

DS, 19, has his own car and is obeying by the social distancing rules.

However, he takes his car out for a drive at night time once a week as he’s read that if the car were to sit for too long, it can cause mechanical issues such as flat tyres, battery problems etc.

If he were to be stopped by the police, would he be fined for this?

My DD has been doing the shopping for us - she's furloughed and had only just got a car beforehand so she's glad of any excuse to get out! For me, it's a great way of her getting road experience without dealing with traffic and she's being useful. Could your DS combine it with getting food? Then he's not wasting fuel.

My car is currently dead outside my place. I'm getting it jump started later and going to have to start taking it out more often. I'm on my 8th week of lockdown and have only been out twice.

He should go out during the day though. I am taking dd's car to work once a week to keep it going. I work ten miles away.

Take it out during the day and get him to get you a few bits from the supermarket that way it's not just going out for the sake of it .

I do a big shop every week to 10 days and go for a drive up and down a non restricted road for about 10 miles - so nip out of our little town , drive to a roundabout and come back before going in local supermarket. Just 10 min, I thought it was useful to do that for keeping car going.

The police said in our area it would be classed as a non essential journey.

We went on holiday for 2 weeks and left our act at the airport (as many do) and it started fine.

Not sure he needs to do this for the battery so often.

Car not act!

We’ve been taking the car out once a week to keep it running. With a little child at home I’m not chancing not having a working car in an emergency

I think AA / RAC will be very busy when this is over.

We have 2 cars. Dh still goes to work about 20 miles away including motorway. He takes my car regularly to ensure it gets a run (both are diesels).

Possibly not every week is required but its common sense to take car for a run.

Police won't stop and fine you anyway as you're allowed to do this. If the police stop you and decide on the spot that what you're doing is non essential then just go home. All the orders that Police have are to enforce this in a non confrontational way, which means fines will be for those refusing instructions to disperse, as opposed to a first response.

Completely understand why he’s doing it but would just go out in the daytime for us own safety.

After a dead battery last week that blocked my car in, my husband is rotating and taking our cars out for a wee drive when he’s going shopping.

My son has a serious nut allergy but we don’t have epipens (a whole other thread- cancelled appts due to CV) so if he inadvertent reacted to something we need to be able to rely on a car

He won’t be fined for this. He needs to keep his car roadworthy and in good condition.

I’m driving out today with DS who is autistic and needs a good long walk. We are going to the nature reserve but I do have a letter I can show to police or anyone else if needed to say why we need to travel for exercise. It needs to be quiet and relaxed.

He sounds very sensible. I’m furloughed, but I make sure my car gets a proper run at least once a week to keep the battery fully charged.