Critical For Drivers To Keep Clean As The World Reopens.
Public transportation is a necessity for many people to get to work, despite the risk of becoming infected with the virus. While conditions across the world are improving, the global pandemic is not going to stop anytime soon, and we simply need to adjust to the new normal. Staying safe in shared cars and on public transport is, therefore, vital. Here are the key pieces of advice for keeping public transport safe as more sectors reopen.
Sanitizing Everything
Hand sanitizers must be scattered throughout buses and trains so that commuters and driver can sanitize themselves as much as possible. This is one of those things that is often forgotten, but it is important in order to avoid getting infected with the virus. Official advice is still to take your time with washing your hands and to make sure it is done thoroughly and regularly.
One way for a driver to get infected with the virus is when they touch a surface that has also been touched by an infected person. An interesting case study for this is the recently discredited ‘five second rule’: contrary to popular belief, scientists have found that food dropped on the floor acquires bacteria no matter how long it is left on the floor, with particularly high results in foods with a high water content.
Similarly, although the virus primarily passes through aerosols, it can linger on surfaces. As a result, it is best for all high touch points to be sanitized every two hours using the latest sanitizing equipment for proper cleaning. This is to make everyone feel confident that there is no trace of the virus inside public vehicles.
Spacing And Capacity
It is important to put signs on vehicles to advise passengers where they can and can’t sit. After all, social distancing must still be observed in order to prevent the spread of the virus. We must still be careful, as we don’t know who has it: some people being asymptomatic, and not everyone has received the vaccine yet. Health experts say that everyone should be at least six feet apart from the next person at all times.
Public transportation can operate, but it should be at a limited capacity, and the driver should be included in the head count. In order to enforce this rule, cameras should be placed at the entrance of each bus. This would allow overseers to tell when the bus is at 50 percent capacity, at which point, no further passengers should be allowed to enter until one of the passengers decide to get off the bus.
Masks Are Compulsory
No passenger should be allowed to enter buses or shared cars if they are not wearing face masks. There is no doubt that wearing face masks is the best way to prevent the virus from spreading and infecting the driver or other passengers. Even if it is uncomfortable, it is the best way to protect both ourselves and those around us.
As the world opens up, the reliance on public transport will begin to increase again. In order to maintain passenger safety, it is vital that sanitization and social distancing are observed in all communal transport.
Text by Jennifer Dawson
