Practical steps for drivers to keep the Covid-19 risk to a minimum

It’s vital to keep your vehicles and drivers as clean as possible at all times.

This practical advice from leading chauffeur company and Professional Driver QSi Gold Award winner iChauffeur is a good benchmark for what you should do. These are the steps you need to take:

• Once a chauffeur has dropped off a client, prior to cleaning the vehicle, the chauffeur will first wash their hands thoroughly before sanitising the vehicle.

• Antiseptic wipes will be used to clean areas such as the interior door panel, all handles, windows, locks, door storage areas, cup holders, power cords, seats, exterior door handles, and children’s car seats.

• Before a new client gets in the car, the chauffeur will sanitise the seats, door handles and all surfaces that the previous passenger had contact with. Once the car has been fully sanitised, the chauffeur will then wash their hands.

• The chauffeur will not shake hands with the customer and instead will offer the customer hand sanitiser and wipes. If there’s a single passenger, they will be asked to sit behind the driver as experts recommend this the safest place to sit.

• Daily newspapers or magazines will not be offered while the crisis is ongoing, as these could spread the virus. Banknotes are equally dirty – so try and be cashless if possible.

• Likewise, only sealed refreshments will be offered and remaining packets will be immediately removed, with the driver wearing gloves, after the journey is completed. Gloves should also be worn if loading customers’ luggage.

• If a chauffeur becomes aware they have had contact with an infected individual, the chauffeur will immediately self-isolate and withdraw from service.

These responsible measures are a minimum that all professional drivers should undertake. Cars are cleaner and a healthier environment than buses, trains or tube, but a car is still an enclosed space, so no risks should be taken.