As part of the UK’s lockdown measures, the public is allowed to go outside once per day for exercise. However, many people may be wondering whether this includes driving.
Can I drive as exercise during lockdown?
The government says people should only leave their homes for “very limited purposes”.
This includes shopping for basic necessities, medical needs, travelling for work (only if cannot work from) and one form of daily exercise.
Exercising must be conducted alone or with members of your household and includes running, walking or cycling.
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National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing said in a document it is “lawful” to drive somewhere to carry out exercise but that driving for a “prolonged period with only brief exercise” was not reasonable.
The guidance also states that exercise “must involve some movement”.
“A very short period of ‘exercise’ to excuse a long period of inactivity may mean that the person is not engaged in ‘exercise’ but in fact something else,” the document adds.
This means treating driving as a form exercise will not be deemed a “reasonable excuse” for leaving your home.
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Driving in lockdown: Are you allowed to drive to a park for exercise
Advice from RAC says the public should avoid using their vehicles to travel somewhere for exercise and to remain locally if they can.
A statement on their website reads: “Although guidance given to the police indicates it may be reasonable to drive a short distance to then get out of a car for exercise (where far more time is spent exercising than driving), we strongly recommend people do not travel to exercise, but instead stay local wherever possible.
“We suggest using your garden for this (if you have one) or leaving your home on foot or by bike, and at all times staying more than two metres away from others.
“Every unnecessary trip by car increases the chances of an avoidable road traffic collision or breakdown.”
When using your car during the lockdown, the government says you should only travel alone or with members of your household.
“Those who normally share a car with people who are not members of their own household – for example, to get to work – should consider alternatives such as walking, cycling and public transport where you can maintain a distance of two metres from others,” the guidance reads.
“If the journey is permitted, such as travel to work, and there is no option but to share a car with people who are not part of the same household, journeys should be shared with the same individuals and with the minimum number of people at any one time.
“Good ventilation (i.e. keeping the windows open) and facing away from each other may help to reduce the risk of transmission. Private vehicles that are used by people from multiple households should be cleaned regularly using gloves and standard cleaning products with particular emphasis on handles.”
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