Allowing people to go out driving

Allow people who are unable to get out for exercise but can get out in their car to go out for a drive, even for an hour. They will leave their home and return within an hour and stay in their vehicle.

Why the contribution is important

Elderly and disabled people who are possibly shielding could get out and see a bit of the countryside, see how spring has arrived and all the beautiful countryside. I know personally that it is very hard for the elderly to be at home all day every day and would help their mental health to be able to get out.

by birchbrae on May 09, 2020 at 03:57PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.1
Based on: 17 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Eladram May 09, 2020 at 16:06

    While it would be nice to be able to go out for a drive, this will be impossible to enforce.

  • Posted by Wulan19 May 09, 2020 at 16:14

    They won't stay in their cars, driving around for the sake of it is just going to clog up the road and make social distancing harder. Petrol stops will be required, the odd sandwich purchase, all leads to spreading/seeding the virus from one area to another.

    I guess if you aren't able to walk for any distance it would be reasonable by exception. I'm sure the police will be understanding if that's the case, as will the general public as not being able go out for a walk must be extremely tough. Wishing you well.

  • Posted by Rachel_T1502 May 09, 2020 at 16:33

    I think this would make a huge difference to mental well-being

  • Posted by roobie May 10, 2020 at 07:22

    Driving is by it's nature socially distanced, I am in favour of all people being able to drive for either a drive or a walk as in busy cities social distancing is a nightmare. I am not elderly and the difference this would make to my mental health is huge.

  • Posted by ellied1 May 10, 2020 at 08:16

    I support this as I know plenty of elderly people who would go for a 'Sunday drive' without stopping, just to get out and see the countryside and they'd be safer than more walkers using farmland while parks and public spaces are closed off to parking. It isn't like they could stop in a public cafe or use public toilets so it would be self limiting.

    And when lockdown is relaxed, I imagine older people getting back in a vehicle after 12+ weeks may be more of a risk to other road users than they would be if able to maintain regular use of the skills involved.

    It is also something I'd like to do just to keep my car battery running and for my own mental healtlh and I'm not elderly, just unable to work and earn income so equally self limiting by financial concerns.
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