By Laura Adams, Senior Education and Safety Analyst, Aceable.com
The coronavirus has created an entirely new world for drivers. What it means to be safe on the road has expanded significantly from just a few weeks ago.
While staying home is undoubtedly the best way to minimize risks, it’s not possible for everyone. Whether you have an essential job or need to venture out for groceries and supplies, use the following tips to stay safe.
Clean and disinfect your vehicle regularly. Every part of your car that you touch should be cleaned to remove dirt and grime, and then disinfected to remove potentially harmful microbes.
Wipe down all high-touch components, including the exterior and interior door handles, seat belts, center console, shifters, display screens, and steering wheel. A study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that a car’s steering wheel typically has four times more bacteria than a toilet seat. So, be sure to give it extra attention.
Use the best cleaning agents you have, such as soap and water, hand sanitizer, or disinfecting wipes. Avoid products with bleach, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide, as they can damage vinyl, plastics, and fabrics in your car’s interior. Cleansers with alcohol are generally safe for most vehicles.
Using a dry or damp microfiber cloth is another effective way to clean your vehicle. HYGEN cloths from Rubbermaid remove 99.9% of microbes, even after laundering them hundreds of times.
Keep gloves and sanitizer in your vehicle to use during and after shopping, pumping gas, and using public keypads. This routine will ensure that you don’t transfer the coronavirus to your car’s interior.
Stay alert in parking lots. Congestion of vehicles, pedestrians, and shopping carts in tight parking lots make them hazardous places for drivers. Keep up your guard and drive slowly as you enter, park, and back out of parking spaces.
If you can park away from other vehicles, you’ll get a little more exercise and reduce the likelihood of getting into an accident. Consider this an extension of social distancing.
Become a hyper-focused driver. If you’re used to making phone calls and texts while driving, taking your attention off the road could be more deadly now than ever. Even if you see fewer vehicles, don’t let it be an excuse to drive distracted. If you do get into an accident, you may be taxing an already overwhelmed healthcare system.
Additionally, drivers who are feeling the stress of the pandemic may be panicked, upset, or preoccupied, which can lead to careless driving. If you don’t stay vigilant for unexpected driving hazards, you can quickly become a crash statistic.
Instead of contributing to distracted driving, pledge to be a calm driver who doesn’t engage in any behaviors that take your mind off the road or your hands off a clean steering wheel.
Aceable is a mobile-first education platform for certification and training courses, including driver’s education, defensive driving, and real estate education. We believe that everyone should have access to a high-quality education that’s also cost-effective. We’re passionate about delivering innovative, outcome-focused education that empowers people to thrive and succeed.
