Can i drive my car during lockdown?

There are no rules that ban anyone from driving their car during the lockdown period, Boris Johnson announced a very specific number of reasons people should leave their homes on Monday 23rd March 2020.As long as people are only driving for one of these four reasons, they’re allowed to be on the roads.

Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible, one form of exercise a day including a run,walk or cycle, this can be alone or with other members of your family, any medical need, providing help or care for a vulnerable person, travelling to and from work but this should be only be where this cannot be done at home.

“You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can. If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

Is Boris Johnson closing roads and motorways?

There are no plans to close roads or motorways just yet. These new measures to keep people in their homes for at least 3 weeks will hopefully lad to a drop in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the UK, In three weeks time the prime minster will hope to ease some of the measures rather than adding further restrictions.

What about public transport?

Public transport remains open to help key workers such as doctors and nurses but parts of this could be closed as well, in London commuters are struggling with the underground service being reduce, thus meaning the remaining carriages are even busier.

Can I drive to perform exercise in other locations?

Many people, particularly in crowded cities, have been keen to drive elsewhere to perform their daily piece of exercise in more isolated locations. The government measures only state the reasons for which people are allowed to leave their homes and do not place any official restrictions on when and where people can perform exercise However, certain police forces have stated that you should not be driving to another location to perform exercise and North Yorkshire Police have been manning checkpoints and stopping vehicles to ask where drivers are going.

Derbyshire Police were heavily criticised after posting a video on Twitter with drone footage from the Peak District, in which they criticised a couple out walking their dog.

How long will this lockdown last?

Johnson announced that these measures are in place for three weeks and they will be reviewed afterwards. The length of the lockdown will depend on how the UK responds to the measures. if coronavirus cases and deaths drop, the lockdown measures could be lifted when next reviewed.