Guy, in Scotland you're not encouraged to drive anywhere for exercise. The National Parks are closed, the mountain bothies are closed & the Mountain Rescue teams are a skeleton only. The guys are away helping distribute food etc, to folk in remote places as public transport is pretty minimal. Calmac are turning away non-essential vehicles trying to get to the islands. The west-coast fishery is closed pro-tem & the tourist season is written-off this year as far as can be forseen.
In Glasgow the parks are open for exercise but the car-parks have been closed by the Polis who are monitoring folks behaviour. Easter will be interesting!!
Skoosh.
Skoosh, Scotland is covered by the same law as England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, that is the Coronavirus Act 2020.
Whilst people in Scotland are not being advised to drive for exercise it is allowed.
Scottish Statutory Instruments
2020 No. 103
Public Health
The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020
Is virtually the same as the English Statutory Instrument no 350
The relevant section of reasons to leave home is set out in section 5 below
“(5) In paragraph (4), a reasonable excuse includes the need—
(a)to obtain basic necessities, including food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) or for a vulnerable person and supplies for the essential upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household or the household of a vulnerable person, or to obtain money,
(b)to take exercise, either alone or with other members of their household,
(c)to seek medical assistance, including to access any of the services referred to in paragraph 37 or 38 of schedule 1,
(d)to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person, including to provide emergency assistance,
(e)to donate blood,
(f)to travel for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable services, where it is not reasonably possible for that person to work, or to provide those services, from the place where they are living,
(g)to attend a funeral of—
(i)a member of the person’s household,
(ii)a close family member, or
(iii)if no-one within sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) are attending, a friend,
(h)to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings,
(i)to access critical public services, including—
(i)childcare or educational facilities (where these are still available to the child in relation to whom that person is the parent of, or has parental responsibility for or care of, the child),
(ii)social services,
(iii)services provided by the Department of Work and Pensions,
(iv)services provided to victims (such as victims of crime),
(j)in relation to children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents, to continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children, and for the purposes of this paragraph, “parent” includes a person who is not a parent of the child, but who has parental responsibility for, or who has care of, the child,
(k)in the case of a minister of religion or worship leader, to go to their place of worship,
(l)to move house where reasonably necessary,
(m)to avoid injury, illness or to escape a risk of harm.”
I would also suggest that any Scottish Court would take heed of the advice given by Matt Hancock (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care ) as elements of his job covers the same matters Scotland, even if they are not bound by his advice they would have to explain why that advice was not good advice.
Cheers
Guy
