The world is currently in a state of panic and the reality is, if we want to get through this then we have to adapt. COVID-19 is scary – that one we are sure of. That’s why we have to make sure we stay on the safe side of things so we don’t get infected. Staying at home and limiting our out-of-home excursions (especially in areas where there are a lot of people) is the best way to reduce our chances of getting the virus.
But this is not the case for a lot of people especially those who are frontliners – people whose work are deemed important for society to go on. This includes hospital staff, grocery store workers, some food workers, and those in the transportation department – including ridesharing drivers.
This puts our dear drivers in a dangerous predicament. Should they prioritize their livelihood and the needs of the public or their own health? Obviously, the decision rests in the hands of the driver. However, we at T3 Atlanta recognize the act of bravery that ridesharing drivers exhibit every time they decide to hit the road to ferry people in and around the city of Atlanta. That is why we created this list of ridesharing tips for drivers to help decrease their chances of getting infected (aside from extra protections like masks and gloves).
COVID-19 Ridesharing Tips for Drivers
Clean your car – Feeling healthy and ready to go on the road for your next passenger? Just do one thing before you go – clean your car. We don’t want to sound like we are overselling it but your car should be in its cleanest as much as possible. Get EPA-recommended disinfectants to clean the inside and outside of your car. As a rule of thumb, don’t just spray and wipe. Spray and let the disinfectant stay on the surface for at least 15 minutes or longer. Focus on the areas that people touch often during a ride. The best case scenario is you should spray and clean after each passenger so you might want to do that considering it’s a bit slow. Telling your passengers about what you are doing will help them relax knowing they are riding a clean car.- Limit touch points – This may require you to do extra stuff for your passengers but believe me, this will go a long way. If you really want to keep your ride as safe as possible then you have to limit the passenger’s touch points. One example is by opening the door for them as they ride the car. Use driving gloves that you can disinfect as you go. Not only is this a good way for you to limit the chances of infection but your riders will also appreciate the extra effort.
- Keep interactions to the minimum – I know that a lot of rideshare drivers like to interact with their passengers and give them stuff like water and treats, but you might want to reconsider that for the meantime. However, this does not mean the ride should be void of interaction. You can give your passenger a small talk about the safety steps you are taking. Believe me, they will appreciate it.
Don’t drive when you feel sick – If you are feeling a bit under the weather then experts suggest you stay home if possible. It’s common sense. Your coughing and sneezing will spread viruses inside your own car which can infect your passenger. Sure, a little cold might not bring you down, but older people may find it hard to fight the viruses back. So while it may not be ideal, considering you need to drive to earn money, staying at home when you feel sick will not only protect you but also the people around you.
While we may not know when this will all end, we should not let it stop us from adapting and making the most out of the situation. Just remember that your passenger’s health and your own should always come first.
For all your car needs you can always come to T3 Atlanta for help. We are still open as we offer an essential service. Just give us a call so we can schedule you to limit people in our shop for physical distancing purposes.
Well, a car radar detector is not magic. It’s just science – at least that’s what they are selling. The idea is simple. Speed guns or radars that police use to measure the speed of your vehicle emit 3 different bands of radar signals (for the US at least). These are the X band, K band, and Ka band. For our friends in Europe, they have a 4th band called the Ku band. What happens is that these radar signals are emitted from the speed guns and hit your cars then bounce back to the police radar, which will then register the speed of the vehicle.
Now that you know how car radar detectors work, you might feel like it’s a great thing to add to your car in order to turn it into KITT from Night Rider.
Here’s the part where we take a step back and assess the technology, its uses, and the repercussions. Sure car radar detectors seem cool and they help you identify speed traps.
What you put in a car emergency kit will depend on your needs. Got a kid? Make sure to include extra diapers, wet wipes, and snacks. Got a pet? Make sure to pack some pet food just in case. Visiting a snowy area? Pack a foldable shovel, cat litter or sand, and snow chains. Go offroading a lot? You get the idea.
Okay, so the worst possible scenario has happened and your car has broken down on the side of the road. Whether you’re on the highway or on a city street, the most important thing you can do (aside from turning on your hazard lights and calling the tow truck, of course) is to stay safe. It’s the perfect time to grab out your road flares and reflective triangles. Reflective triangles are especially useful if you happen to be stuck at night or on a blind corner so you can give fellow drivers plenty of warning before they see you.
Although Atlanta residents likely will not be shoveling snow this winter, getting your vehicle ready for the winter season is a necessity for all car owners. Ice presents a nasty problem for anyone, especially those of us on the road. While we can’t control conditions on the road, we can control how prepared we are for poor diving conditions. The best way to do that is to make sure that our tires are maintained and working properly.
Another acid test for the readiness of your vehicle for winter is whether it is set up for optimal visibility in poor weather conditions. A de-icer is a must-have when conditions turn sub-zero. Properly functioning wipers is also key.
Vehicle inspection is another prudent measure to best winterize your vehicle. There are a variety of automotive problems that can be exacerbated or caused by cold and freezing weather.
Those residential streets will likely be jam-packed with trick-or-treaters looking for a haul of candy that will leave their dentists squirming. This means that you can expect to be yielding the right of way to pedestrians often and everywhere. Leave your impatience at the office and plan on having a longer drive-time than usual.
This is an obvious one, but the most important. Some of us might have a tendency to overestimate our multi-tasking skills and feel that we can send a quick text or adjust the music playing over the speakers while driving.
For those of us who will be walking the streets this Halloween rather than driving them, wearing clothes and accessories to heighten our visibility is key. There are more than a few ways to do this: one can find a plethora of clothes with reflective strips (some costumes even will come pre-fitted with them).
1. Put an Emergency Gas Card in the Glove Compartment
3. Check the Spare Tire (If Your Car Has One)
5. Put an Emergency Kit in the Car
7. Check the Battery in the Car
A lot of us bring our pets on our summer road trips and that’s not a bad idea. Pets enjoy having fun with their owners and you wouldn’t want to leave them out, right? But you have to make sure your pet is ready for the road trip. Aside from that, you need to ensure you brought all the essentials for your pet so he/she can better enjoy the road trip.
The last thing you want on a road trip is being stuck on the road because your car broke down. Taking your beloved car for a maintenance check is quick and painless and can assure you of a lovely road trip. In case mechanics find issues with your car, they can just provide the solution to make sure you are safe on the road.
A lot of groups have had the chance to test the mileage of various vehicles while running the AC and having the windows down. One of them, called the Society of Automotive Engineers, finally sought after the answer to the question in a scientific way.
Normally, you’d want to have your AC serviced at least once a year. Think of it as a yearly checkup where the technicians ensure your AC is clean from dust, pollen, and gunk while making sure it is working as intended. If need be, expert AC technicians will check and clean every component of the AC system on your car.
Make sure your pet is used to traveling with you in your car. Traveling is a new experience for pets so you should make sure you take them to short trips so they get used to the feeling of being in a closed space for a certain time.
