A woman who claimed an Arriva driver told her to get off his bus for not wearing a face mask has caused many to ask about the rules revolving exemption.
Charlene Oakley, from New Ferry, boarded the 418 bus towards Birkenhead shortly before 12.30pm on Monday, September 28, when she claims the driver asked where her face covering was.
The 35-year-old, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), claims after she explained why she wasn't wearing a face covering the driver asked to see her exemption card.
According to the government website it is "a personal choice and is not necessary in law" to have an exemption card.
Despite explaining this, Charlene claims the driver became irate and proceeded to switch the engine off.
Following the situation, many took to social media to give their opinion on the best practice rules surrounding exemption cards.
Hayley Lawrenson said: "Unfortunately the genuine exempt people are being copied by people who don't care and use their health as an excuse.
"The bus driver should have a right to protect himself and his other passengers too. As much as no-one wants to tell their illness an exempt lanyard or card would be ideal."
Irene White Bernard: "If you're exempt have a card to show the driver simple, driver is only doing his job."
Gillian Davies: "Don't people realise bus drivers are human too, most of them have worked through this pandemic and they are scared as well, they have family and a life just like the public and they don't make the rules."
Arvin Aneja said: "We all have issues and we all need to take responsibility and respect others and the society we live with.
"Rules are rules and they need to be followed and explained when questioned especially to the ones who are serving our community and risking their lives for us and their livelihood.
"Carry an exemption card to avoid unnecessary confrontation."
Do you think there should be a more robust protocol brought in by government for those exempt from wearing face masks? Let us know in the comments below
However the government website clearly states an exemption card is a 'personal choice' and not law. You can visit this link to get printable exemption cards or ones you can save to your mobile phone to show others.
On the website the government states: "Those who have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering should not be routinely asked to give any written evidence of this, this includes exemption cards.
"No person needs to seek advice or request a letter from a medical professional about their reason for not wearing a face covering.
"Some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering.
"This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign.
"This is a personal choice and is not necessary in law."
Ally Curran said: "This shouldn't be the fault of the girl or the driver; the rules need to be clearer to everyone so we know what's a rule and what's a law, because right now I don’t think I’m the only one who hasn’t got a clue."
Stuart Rastall said: "You can understand the bus driver though, if you don’t have a card then everyone will claim to suffer from something in order not to wear a mask. Surely it would be easier just to phone your doctor and get a card."
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Dawn Louise said: "I'm exempt due to a chronic lung condition but I just wear one anyway and put up with it because the one and only time I didn’t I got glared at (in a shop not public transport) and I can’t be bothered with dealing with peoples narrow mindedness.
"I don’t think it's fair for people to voice their opinion to someone not wearing a mask, just because you can wear one with asthma or anxiety etc doesn’t mean the next person can. Everyone is different and we don’t all cope with things the same as each other."
Sue Perry said: "I feel total sympathy for the poor woman involved and find it unbelievable how people can't respect other people's hidden disabilities. It is totally unreasonable to expect every one to wear a mask."
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