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Original poster

AIBU to think that people should legally be required to stick to a certain travel zone around their house?

129 replies

chomalungma · 30/12/2020 15:52

It won't stop Covid.
But it will reduce the number of people from an infected area going to another area with lower infections.
Maybe say a 10 mile zone - unless you have a really good reason (such as it's the nearest food shop, hospital, GP - or caring for someone)

It should stop people going to pubs etc, shops from areas of high infection.

Our Tier 2 city has just gone to Tier 3. We had a lot of people from other cities come to our city over December.

OP posts:
HilaryBriss · 30/12/2020 15:53

A good idea in theory but how would that be monitored? Electronically tag everyone?

CaptainMarvelDanvers · 30/12/2020 15:54

Work?

MiddleClassProblem · 30/12/2020 15:56

Work, school etc many cross over

And how is the 10 miles worked out? Set zones so if you’re on the edge of one zone, tough shit if you want to go to the supermarket two roads away in the next zone, you have to go 5 miles in the other direction?

QuestionableMouse · 30/12/2020 15:56

Not great in rural areas though - my nearest big supermarket is almost that far away!

Original poster
chomalungma · 30/12/2020 15:56

@CaptainMarvelDanvers

Work?
That would be an acceptable reason.

I don't know how it would be monitored.

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Original poster
chomalungma · 30/12/2020 15:57

@QuestionableMouse

Not great in rural areas though - my nearest big supermarket is almost that far away!
I think going to a supermarket would be an acceptable reason.
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Mummydaydreams · 30/12/2020 15:57

Things are dystopian enough already for me without this.

Mylittlepony374 · 30/12/2020 15:58

They do this in Ireland in Level 5, the highest level of restrictions. You can't go more than 5km from your home. I forgot, went to pick up a baby cot approx 10km away, got stopped at a police checkpoint on the way back and got a stern enough talking to.

DaysAreGettingLongerNow · 30/12/2020 15:59

I think the problem is that it’s not enforceable. So the people who wouldn’t have done it anyway still won’t do it, and those who don’t care and know they won’t get caught will just go ahead.

MiddleClassProblem · 30/12/2020 15:59

So what would be an unacceptable reason? If work, school, supermarket and health care are all reasonable to cross out for them what’s the point? Surely it’s only seeing people which in some tiers and lockdown will be out anyway

Theunamedcat · 30/12/2020 16:00

Fuck off ffs all this will achieve is rule breakers breaking rules and getting away with it it won't change anything else we simply don't have the staff

elizabethdraper · 30/12/2020 16:00

Its 5km in Ireland.
It was 2km at the start.
If you needed to travel for work you needed a letter to say you were essential staff.

Original poster
chomalungma · 30/12/2020 16:00

@MiddleClassProblem

So what would be an unacceptable reason? If work, school, supermarket and health care are all reasonable to cross out for them what’s the point? Surely it’s only seeing people which in some tiers and lockdown will be out anyway
Going to shops, pubs, bars, restaurants, museums etc.
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OrigamiOwl · 30/12/2020 16:01

Would be pretty impossible to enforce.

Also what if you live near the border of another tier? Is your 10 mile rule only 10 miles in your own tier? Or is it 10 miles in any direction regardless of tier?

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 30/12/2020 16:02

10 miles gives me (central London) a lot of scope - a friend who lives rurally would barely make it to the nearest supermarket.

she does have lots of lovely country walks, open space and woods from her doorstep though, and ten miles gets her to the beach Envy

Original poster
chomalungma · 30/12/2020 16:03

Also what if you live near the border of another tier? Is your 10 mile rule only 10 miles in your own tier? Or is it 10 miles in any direction regardless of tier

10 miles around your house.
Any direction.

It wouldn't stop contacts.
But it would reduce contacts.
Until the vaccine has been given a chance to be effective.

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MiddleClassProblem · 30/12/2020 16:04

Going to shops, pubs, bars, restaurants, museums etc.

Which are closed in the top tier anyway and in lockdown. As I said, what’s the point of adding a different way when you just want a lockdown?

Norwayreally · 30/12/2020 16:05

How would this be enforced? We’d have to enlist the army to set up checkpoints on the motorways, A roads and back roads into and out of towns and cities all over the country. Guessing people would require a permit to bypass the checkpoint and that could be a real minefield. Say, for example, someone needs emergency childcare which is allowed but their only childcare option lives 30 miles away?

We aren’t living in an episode of Black Mirror. The restrictions are honestly fucked up enough without checkpoints into and out of your home town.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 30/12/2020 16:05

We don’t have the manpower that enforce that plus people will just get round it by claiming exceptions etc. Bit like all the new bubbles that many seemed to acquire to get around the one day only mixing at Christmas.

TeacupDrama · 30/12/2020 16:05

I don't think it can be law as too difficult but I think 10 miles would be plenty for most things except work, school and medical appointments, 10 miles is plenty for exercise leisure outdoor walks with a friend and for most shopping, in some rural areas you might need to go further but you shouldn't drive 40 miles to Waitrose passing Asda Morrisons etc on the way. That said I'm not sure lockdown really works that well, it didn't really achieve that much longterm in Spain or France it's not working in Germany which had over 1200 deaths yesterday which is 3 times more than here. People need to be sensible but viruses just do what viruses do.

MiddleClassProblem · 30/12/2020 16:05

@chomalungma

Also what if you live near the border of another tier? Is your 10 mile rule only 10 miles in your own tier? Or is it 10 miles in any direction regardless of tier

10 miles around your house.
Any direction.

It wouldn't stop contacts.
But it would reduce contacts.
Until the vaccine has been given a chance to be effective.

10 miles around your house would just be loads of overlapping circles that make no difference! Like a giant venn diagram...
bloodywhitecat · 30/12/2020 16:06

My daughter travels miles to look after our baby when I take DP for chemo, would she be 'allowed' under these rules or do I get to take baby to the hospital too so he can sit around in a cold car for a couple of hours as well as me?

Original poster
chomalungma · 30/12/2020 16:06

Which are closed in the top tier anyway and in lockdown. As I said, what’s the point of adding a different way when you just want a lockdown

Ours were open until last week.
If people who lived over 10 miles away hadn't come to our city, there is a good chance we would still be in Tier 2.

I don't want a lockdown.

I would like to see life carry on with as much open as possible, but with people just sticking to their local area.

I would like to have pubs open. To hear live music again. To have fun.

But for people to stick to their area.

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devildeepbluesea · 30/12/2020 16:07

@Mummydaydreams

Things are dystopian enough already for me without this.
This.
Original poster
chomalungma · 30/12/2020 16:07

@bloodywhitecat

My daughter travels miles to look after our baby when I take DP for chemo, would she be 'allowed' under these rules or do I get to take baby to the hospital too so he can sit around in a cold car for a couple of hours as well as me?
I am sure that would come under caring responsibilities.
OP posts: