The COVID19 pandemic has affected many countries around the world including Bangladesh. But the mass people can’t stay at home every day due to maintaining their lives and livelihood. Every morning millions of people come out on the road and commute to their respective destinations. Not every individual owns personal transport. Many people use ridesharing serves which are not free from risk at all. Read this article to know some tips about how to use the ridesharing vehicles safely during the COVID19 pandemic.
Ridesharing Safety Tips for Passengers during COVID19 Pandemic
Never Ride with Sickness
If you’re experiencing any symptoms of COVID19, moving around would be completely irresponsible. And, you may face public annoyance for doing so. Therefore, when you are feeling sick, stay at home, call your doctor, and get tested.
Never Enter a Vehicle without Face Mask
During the pandemic situation, every person around you can be a possible bearer of Coronavirus. So, it would be wise, if you maintain self-protective measures, like wearing masks, hand gloves, face shields, etc. And, don’t forget to carry a 60-70 percent alcohol-based hand sanitizer to disinfect your hands frequently after touching things any part of the ride-sharing vehicle.
Avoid Riding on the Car’s Front Seat
When a person talks, moisture comes out of the mouth which may contain the virus. If you sit beside the driver, the moisture emitted from his mouth may heat on your face during conversation. Thus, the possible virus droplets may enter your body.
One of the key safety measures from Coronavirus contraction in a ridesharing vehicle is to maintain physical distance from the driver. It is recommended, not to ride on the front seat of the ride-sharing vehicle. Try to sit on the back-seat behind the driver.
Disinfect the Common Vehicle Touchpoints
The coronavirus can stay alive on hard surfaces for several days. Bear some clean tissues in your bag. Wipe out the car handle properly from inside to outside, before touching it.
And be cautious about touching the common vehicle touch points inside the vehicle, like seat cover, seat belts, window winder, door handle, etc. After riding inside the vehicle, clean the inside door-handles, seat belt, seat cover, and rear window winders with a clean tissue.
Before riding on a ridesharing motorbike, stay cautious about the common touchable places like the seat and helmet. Wipe out the helmet with a clean tissue before wearing it. Then dispose of the used tissues properly.
Read How Long Does Coronavirus Survive on Different Surfaces and Air?
Keep Your Hands Safe
While you sit on a ridesharing vehicle, beware of touching here and there. The Coronavirus can cling to different inner parts of the car and survive for days. Make sure that you are keeping your both hands to yourself. When you are obliged to touch things, use a clean tissue to wipe it properly. And disinfect your hands immediately after touching.
Read Post Lockdown Safety Precautions to Prevent COVID19 Contraction
Allow Fresh Air Circulation
Allow fresh natural air circulation instead of running the air-cooler inside the ridesharing vehicle. Lower the window shield up to some inches to let the fresh air enter the vehicle.
Opt Electronic Payment Systems
Corona Virus can survive on paper for days. The paper money you exchange can contain viruses. Try to use the electronic cash payment systems (credit card, Visa Card, debit card, etc) or Mobile Financial services (such as bKash, Nagad, Ukash, Rocket, etc) to pay the bill at the end of your journey.
Ridesharing Safety Tips for Drivers during Coronavirus Pandemic
You can flow the following measures to you keep both yourself and passengers safe from COVID19:
Maintain Personal Safety Precautions
- Avoid driving a ridesharing vehicle, if you are sick.
- Wash your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) frequently.
- Wear a face mask, when a passenger enters your vehicle.
- Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or parts of the mouth with dirty hands.
- Wear disposable gloves while handling cash money.
Read Essential Hygiene Practices to Prevent Coronavirus Contamination
Keep Yourself & the Passengers Safe
- Ask the passengers not to use the front seat of your vehicle and maintain physical distance.
- Ask the passengers to wear a face mask.
- Avoid handling cash money, if possible. And, encourage the passengers to pay through an electronic payment system or MFS.
- Keep disposable face masks and disposable gloves for each passenger customer. And, dispose of those elements properly after each trip.
- Keep tissues and alcohol-based (60-70%) hand sanitizer available for the passengers.
Disinfect the Vehicle Regularly
- Wash the vehicle properly on a routine basis
- Disinfect your vehicle properly using sanitizers after dropping off passengers
- Properly clean and disinfect the commonly touchable surfaces of your vehicle.
- Wear disposable face masks and hand gloves while cleaning and dispose of them properly.