With emergency services currently being stretched to the limit, time is absolutely precious, so being called out to attend incidents which could have been avoided if people stayed at home as advised, can only put more pressure on those key-workers who are at the front-line of the UK's battle against COVID-19.
A number of crashes have recently been reported involving vehicles which were on 'non-essential' journeys.
Thames Valley Roads Policing Team reported on a crash incident where a driver veered off the road into a tree because they said a large bug flew into the vehicle causing them to lose control.
It was revealed that a ten mile journey had been taken from their home to walk three dogs, who were in the vehicle at the time of the collision.
Thames Valley Police confirmed that the only casualty of the collision was the bug itself which died. The driver and the three dogs were discharged at the scene, although police officers, fire crews and ambulance services attended the scene, so the real casualty of the incident was their valuable time.
A few days earlier, a similar collision was reported by Essex Roads Policing Unit - South, when a driver said they were bored at home during lockdown so decided to go for a drive which ended with them smashing into a metal fence.
Again, police and ambulance crews had to attend the scene causing unnecessary extra work for the staff during such desperate times.
The message from the government is clear; only travel if it's absolutely necessary and essential.
As NHS staff continue to stress 'we stay at home to save your lives, please stay at home to save ours', it's only fair everyone does their part to help the fight against COVID-19.
Image credits: Twitter - @EP_RPU_South & @tvprp
