How ridershare drivers can keep themselves safe during the coronavirus pandemic
Updated: Jan 20
Stay home if you are sick
If you should develop a fever, or symptoms such as a cough or difficulty breathing call your doctor for medical advice and guidance before visiting their office. Don't return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, after talking to your doctor.
Wear a cloth face covering
The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures are hard to maintain. Wearing a cloth face covering could prevent people who don't know they have the virus from transmitting it to others.
How to limit contact
Tell the passenger to sit in the back.
Avoid close contact with passengers, when possible.
Keep a distance of at least 6 feet from passengers when you are outside the vehicle.
Ask passengers to handle their own bags and belongings during pick-up and drop-off.
Use the cars vents to bring in fresh air from the outside, do not use the recirculated air option when you have passengers in your car.
Leave your windows open or cracked when having riders in your car
If you should leave your windows up cover your face
Avoid offering items such as water bottles, candy, or magazines.
Clean and disinfect
Carry cleaning and disinfectant spray or disposable wipes and rash bags with you in your vehicle.
Make sure to follow the directions on the cleaning product’s label.
If surfaces are visibly dirty, they should be cleaned with detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
At a minimum, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in the vehicle at the beginning and end of each shift, and in between each ride.
Key times to wash your hands while working include:
Before and after work shifts
Before and after work breaks
After handling passengers’ personal belongings, if unavoidable
Between rides and after handling/exchanging money
After putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings
Before wearing and after removing cold-weather gloves
Before and after pumping gas
Note: If you should feel uncomfortable with providing transport to a visibly sick passenger for safety reasons, you can choose to refuse transport. However, discrimination against passengers on the basis of race, national origin, or other reasons as described in your company’s policies is not allowed.
