It's odd how the Covid-19 has brought in a neo-normalism to human life across the globe that involves suspension of progress. A tiny speck of a virus has paralysed our lives rendering us weak and inadequate. The pressing need of the hour is a thorough understanding and evaluation of the situation. To keep going by curating lifestyle changes that would ensure protection against the unseen enemy.

There is no denying that a car is a mobile isolation unit that helps to maintain social distancing by limiting personal contacts. But that does not imply that travelling by car is risk-free. Here are some basic guidelines for the awareness of motorists to ensure safety from COVID-19 while travelling.

 

Car Sanitization
First and foremost, ensure that your vehicle is regularly sanitized – at least once a week, if you are using it daily. This is vital, especially if you had passengers on board or stopped for some transaction at a public place. Start with disinfecting all surfaces that are likely to have been touched, physically, during the journey.

 

Given is a list of the parts of a car that are frequently touched that need to be sanitized:

Interior parts used by the driver
1. Steering wheel including horn and controls for indicators, windscreen and wipers
2. Seat belt and locks
3. Gear knob
4. Handbrake
5. Radio, infotainment and air-conditioner controls
6. Door-handle and controls
7. Trip Meter controls
8. Lights
9. Rear view mirror
10. Glove box
11. Seat position controls
12. Elbow rests
13. Window glass
14. Seat

Interior parts used by passengers
1. Door-handle and controls
2. Seat belts and locks
3. Elbow rests
4. Seats

Exterior parts open to public / passengers
1. All door handles
2. Window glasses
3. Fuel tank lid
4. Luggage compartment handle
5. Car key

Materials for cleaning
Micro-fibre cloth
A micro-fibre cloth is ideal for rigorous cleansing of the car surfaces. If you plan to do it yourself, it is advisable to wear gloves while cleaning, to protect your skin from the harmful chemicals present in the sanitizers. While wiping the surfaces, move your hands only in one direction from left to right or the other way round, but never wipe back on the same surface. Wash the cloth thoroughly with detergent before using it again.

 

Vehicle sanitizer
Generally, a 70% alcohol solution is effective against coronavirus. Thus, spraying or wiping with isopropyl alcohol on the internal and external parts of the car is recommended.

 

You can use an alcohol solution to wipe the seat upholstery and other soft surfaces in the car. But be careful not to soak them through. Generally, alcohols can be safely used on leather or polyurethane (PU) / foam upholstery but intensive cleaning or rubbing with alcohol can cause discolouration of the leather. This process is, however, not applicable for fabric seat covers.

Caution
Avoid use of strong chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide and cleaning agents containing ammonium on the car’s surfaces, especially on touch screens.

Although chemical disinfectants and sanitizers are essential to control communicable diseases, they are potentially hazardous to humans, especially children. Ensure that children are kept away during sanitization of a vehicle.

After sanitizing, it is important to wait for at least 15-20 minutes before boarding the vehicle so that it is all dried up and there are no traces of the moisture containing chemicals/ alcohol in the air or on surfaces.

Professional Car Sanitization
Sanitizing your car personally is not always effective. Hence, you may choose to get it done professionally. For this you need to visit a private car sanitization outlet or an authorised service centre with the facility.

Navshield, an ISO 9001-2015 certified company has been specialising in vehicle sanitization in Kolkata. It uses hospital grade chemicals acknowledged by WHO for sanitizing a car.

Nandini Mitra, Director at Navshield states, “By extending car-sanitization service, we aim to ensure safety of passengers and make safe driving available for all. We have set up booths at various petrol pumps and other important locations in Kolkata. We carry out sanitization with an advanced fumigation technology, applying chemical wipes in an effective manner to ensure safe driving possible for all. Our charges range from Rs 150 for hatchbacks and sedans to Rs 200 for SUVs.”

“The car sanitizer is available on online portals and in car accessory stores as well. Although merely using the sanitizers may not be as effective as professional cleansing, it can help reduce the risk substantially,” adds Nandini.

Motoring Precautions
Wear face Mask
If you have a chauffeur or passengers on board, enforce wearing face masks for all. But if you are driving alone, you may remove your mask inside the vehicle. However, remember not to roll down the window glasses without putting your mask on.

 

Avoid Passengers
It is always advisable to travel alone or with your family members only. Try not to share your vehicle with others. In case you have to take someone along, make sure that the person(s) does/ do not show any symptoms of illness. In any case, using a facemask is mandatory for all the passengers, all through the drive. Physical contact or sharing water bottles, food etc. should be avoided at any cost.

 

Keep Windows Closed
Keep all four window glasses of your vehicle rolled up during a drive, particularly while passing through crowded places, stopping at traffic signals or if held up in traffic jams.

Do not forget to wear a face mask before you open the window glasses in case you have to communicate with outsiders. Remember, anyone communicating with you from outside would be doing the same from a level much higher than yours.

Avoid giving alms to beggars during halts.

Fuel outlet
At fuel outlets, try to maintain maximum distance with the staff. The following methods could be effective in keeping a distance.

1. Open the fuel lid from inside the car; abstain from getting off your vehicle.

2. Do not lower your window glasses at a fuel outlet. Try to instruct the staff – keeping the glass rolled up on your side.

3. If you are behind the wheels and absolutely inaudible to the staff across, lower the rear window glass, instead of the glass beside you, to keep a barrier between you and the staff. You may also consider opening the glass on the other side.

4. If you are forced to lower a glass, do not open more than 2 inches; try to maintain the glass level above the head of the attending staff. In any case, ensure that he/she is wearing a mask too.

5. Ideally, make your payments remotely through mobile payment apps or via contactless cards.

6. If you go for card or cash payments, do not forget to use a hand sanitizer before and after the transaction. Insist the staff uses hand sanitizer before the transaction, or handing over the card-swipe machine or delivering the receipt or change.

7. Finally, try to tank up fully so that you don’t have to get back to the fuel outlet within a short while.

Car Parking
At car parks, bear in mind the level of a standing parking agent; limit your interactions and maintain distance from him.

1. Before rolling down your glass for payment, ensure the parking agent is wearing a mask.

2. Lower the glass as little as possible. Do not open more than 2 inches keeping the glass level above the agent’s head.

3. It is advisable to open the rear window glass instead of the one beside you, to cut off his oral droplets.

4. Once payment is made, avoid taking the parking receipt to reduce contact.

 

oll plaza
FASTag transaction

1. It is recommended to buy and activate a FASTag before setting off on a long drive for cashless transactions.

2. Ensure you have enough balance in your FASTag wallet to avoid manual transactions.

 

Cash transaction
1. For making cash payments, wear your mask before opening the glass.

2. Use disposable gloves before the transaction. Dispose of the used gloves immediately after the use at dedicated garbage bins. In absence of gloves, use hand sanitizers generously after the transaction.

3. Carry enough change to avoid cash returns.

4. Make the payments at the toll counters rather than to the toll agents waiting at the toll bays, to avoid oral communication from a height.