How to stay safe in a Road-trip during pandemic?
The world witnessed a horrible year 2020. COVID-19 affected millions of people and the death toll also touch millions. Living a quality and stress-free life in such situations seemed to be a dream.
While the threat of COVID-19 is still around, our team of professional instructors designed a list of useful tips that will help enable one to stay safe and drive safely whether driving locally or planning a road trip. Before commencing a journey, one must remember that any trip during this pandemic situation can be dealt with common sense by bearing in mind factors like precautions, vigilance, and planning.
So, what is required from you?
Have a plan – Do not just go for a trip for the sake of trip, i.e., do travel unnecessarily.
Assemble a sanitation kit – You will need to ensure that you are equipped with sanitisers, disinfectant sprays, and masks.
Minimize your time spent in high-traffic areas – You will come across overcrowded areas, like pubs, restaurants, and fast-food chains, avoid to the max, or follow the social distancing rule strictly, and make sure you are washing your hands properly. Cooperate with the government health authorities by following their instructions, for example, do not miss out on doing the COVID safe check in wherever you go.
Fuelling up – Fuel stations are busy and almost from anywhere can use any fuel station, therefore, the nozzles are frequently in use. Fuel stations can be prime contaminant hotspots. If equipped with sanitisers, you will need to clean hands, wear a facemask and ensure you do not stay unnecessarily long in such hotspots.
Minimise the contact – Use methods like Apple Pay, debit credit card, and avoid using cash to pay.
What and where will you eat? Ideally you should plan for food and snacks, in a pandemic situation like the one we are going through, a smart approach would be to get something from home with you. This will minimise the risk greatly.
Is your vehicle clean? You must keep it disinfected and clean using the right cleaning material. Disinfectant wipes must be used to clean the most frequently used areas like door handles, steering and handbrakes etc.
Choose a hotel or rental property carefully – Remember it is not only you who is travelling, the hotel or rental property may have been with someone else before you and that person may have been in hotspot zones.
Bring an extra pillow, blanket, and clothing from home - This is for the comfort of your mind, you may not be at peace as this thought of contamination may be on your mind all the time when using hotel provide pillows and blankets.
The safety points highlighted above will help you greatly whether you are a new driver or an experienced one. It is always good to be safe than sorry.
