Driving somewhere to take exercise, providing the drive is not as long as the walk and shopping for luxuries should be allowed under lockdown rules at least in England.
A document set out by the National Police Council sets out what constitutes a reasonable excuse to leave the place where you live
The advice says buying several days’ worth of food, including luxury items and alcohol is reasonable and there is no need for all a person’s shopping to be basic food supplies
The purchase of snacks and luxuries is still permitted and it adds that in general terms, a person has a reasonable excuse to visit the shops which remain open to customers under the Regulations.
If a person is already out
of the address with good reason, then it would not be proportionate to prevent the person from buying non- essential items.Food could include hot food from takeaways.
Buying a small amount of a staple item or necessity (eg, a newspaper, pet food, a loaf of bread or pint of milk) and collecting surplus basic food items from a friend are all deemed allowable
Driving to countryside and walking where far more time is spent walking than driving is allowable but driving for a prolonged period with only brief exercise is not
Stopping to rest or to eat lunch while on a long walk is permissible says the advice but a short walk to a park bench, when the person remains seated for a much longer period is not.
Moving to a friend’s address for several days to allow a cooling-off’ following arguments at home is allowed says the advice as is providing support to vulnerable people.
However visiting a friend in their address or meeting in public to socialise is not allowed
