Safe travel has taken on a completely new dimension as we learn more about the invisible enemy and change our day to day routines to protect ourselves and each other. Drivers have fared somewhat better than some other professions, but must be mindful of the new risks associated with every trip taken. The end goal is still to arrive home safe after every trip.
The basics are important for everyone to remember. Wash your hands often and don’t touch your face. Wearing a mask and gloves is in your best interest, and if you are driving people, especially so. Certain types of driving present more risk than others, so here are a few safe travel tips based on profession.
Safe Travel Tips for Food Delivery
Avoid handling money. If you must handle money, wear rubber gloves, change them often, and wash your hands between changes. Have as little contact as possible with customers. Step back from the door well before it is answered, or just leave the food and call the client to let them know it is there. A customer told me today that a driver had left their food outside and did not bother to even let them know.
Be mindful of the vehicle surfaces that are often touched and clean and disinfect them often. You are constantly handling things others have handled, so keep your immediate environment wiped down and think about safety prior to each trip.
Safe Travel Tips for Uber, Lyft, & Taxi Drivers
This is a bit riskier than delivering things as you are in contact with many different people throughout the work day. A little more precaution may be in order both for your safety and the safety of your passengers. Keep your distance by only allowing passengers in the back seat. Be prepared to disinfect between passengers, they won’t mind waiting. Consider fashioning a barrier between the front and back seats. Get creative!
Be watchful for signs of illness and take extra care if you see them. A quick study of the guidelines published for Paramedics could be in your best interest. Know what to look for and follow your companies guidelines for when it is best to recommend trained medical transport in lieu of your services.
You may want to require or at least ask passengers to wear masks if they have them. If at all possible have tissues and hand sanitizer available for passengers. Post information in your back seat, a friendly reminder could save a life. The CDC has printable materials available in many languages on their website.
Safe Travel Tips for Truckers
Services that were once available every few miles are not so readily available these days. Be aware before starting a trip where services may and may not be available. Stay plugged into social networks for information. There was a recent article about a high school in Washington that is open for truckers to park, shower, and get fed. Only by networking with others in your profession will you find those gems.
Clean your cab often. Many surfaces in your cab get a lot of hand contact. Gear shifts, steering wheels, tablets, and radios should be regularly cleaned and disinfected. Don’ forget the door handles, inside and out. If you don’t have sanitizer, soap and warm water will do. Here is a link to a list of CDC approved disinfectants. They may not always readily available, so try to have some kind of cleaning solution on hand as well. 1/3 cup bleach to a gallon of water is a pretty safe bet in any case.
This is especially important in shared vehicles. Some great vehicle hygiene are posted on the NRSPP website.
