Safer car sharing during the COVID‑19 pandemic

One such instance that springs to mind is the need to share a car – be it with a colleague or a member of your support bubble. Current government guidelines state that “Car sharing is not permitted with someone from outside your household or your support bubble unless your journey is undertaken for an exempt reason. For example, if car sharing is reasonably necessary as part of your work.” With that in mind, while car sharing means sitting within the advised two metre distance, there are precautions you can take which will lessen the likelihood of catching or transmitting COVID-19.

Avoid car sharing

It goes without saying that, where possible, avoid sharing a vehicle. Cycle or walk to your destination if you can or, while it goes against our environmental conscience, consider the possibility of taking two cars or taxis. If these options are neither possible nor financially viable, follow the steps below to ensure that you travel as safely as possible.

Wear a mask

It is a legal requirement to wear a mask in a taxi and advised that passengers in private cars do the same to restrict the spread of the virus.

Small groups are best

If you can’t avoid car sharing, you’re advised to share with the same people each time, and in as small a group as possible.

Give others space

Sit as far away from each other as possible. This means that in an average hatchback, the passenger should sit in the rear of the car on the opposite side to the driver.

On public transport, where seating arrangements allow, travel facing away from each other, side by side or behind other people. Avoid facing one another if you can help it.

Open the windows

It may be sub-zero outside and the prospect of driving with the windows wide open is less than appealing. But guidelines advise opening all windows to allow complete ventilation, which prevents the concentration of potentially viral particles from building up. Even two open windows – those opposite the driver and passenger – will prove somewhat effective, allowing air to be channelled across the back seat and out the front passenger window. Alternatively, set the vehicle’s air conditioning to ‘fresh air mode’ rather than the ‘recirculation’ setting.

Either way, be prepared, wrap up warm and fend off COVID, one gust at a time.

Clean the car, wash your hands

Finally, if you have to take guests in your car, make sure to clean before and after with an antibacterial, car-safe product, focussing on door handles, seat belts and other touchpoints.

Make sure you and your passengers wash your hands regularly, too, and anti-bac your hands before and after getting into or out of the car.

Photography by Matt Smart, Charles Deluvio and Frosina Polazarevska.