The U.S. is now reporting 144, 520 cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) with models projecting upwards of a million cases as this virus spreads. One of the best ways to flatten the curve is to stay at home as much as possible. But staying home 100% of the time isn’t an option for many. Groceries still need to be purchased, medications need to be picked up and essential workers still need to get to work. As a result, drivers should take extra precautions to protect themselves and their families at home.
5 Safety Tips for Driving During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Be cautious of touching fuel pumps when filling your vehicle. According to carrentals.com, the average fuel pump handle is 11,835 times dirtier than a public toilet seat. Consider wearing protective gloves when fueling up, but make sure you know how to properly remove them to avoid contamination.
- Limit the number of stops. Be strategic about where and how many stops you make while out and about. Plan your drives for the week if possible, to avoid making excessive stops and increasing your risk of exposure.
- Leverage contactless payments. Utilize contactless payment methods as much as possible when making purchases. Contactless payments include Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Android Pay. This reduces contact to commonly touched surfaces like the credit card terminals at checkout.
- Use hand sanitizer every time you enter your vehicle. This helps you avoid contaminating the vehicle with germs you might have picked up elsewhere.
- Disinfect your vehicle every day. Wipe down all frequently touched surfaces with disinfectant wipes daily if not multiple times throughout the day. Learn more about interior disinfection techniques from AMMO NY in their video tutorial.
Common germy surfaces include:
- Steering wheel
- Interior door handles
- gear-shift knob
- Seatbelts
- Radio dials
- Cup holders
- Dashboard
It’s important to stay on top of new information being released locally and federally as the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving every day. Be sure to visit your state and local government websites regularly.
Top Driver’s Response to COVID-19
We are actively developing a WEBCAST Classroom option for Illinois residents to provide alternative classroom training for current and new students. WEBCAST options for Ohio and Michigan are pending, but we hope to offer this option soon. We anticipate rolling out this program the week of April 6, 2020. Our traditional driving classes remain unavailable until the COVID-19 mandate on social distancing has been lifted. We have also canceled all in-vehicle lessons scheduled through April 30, 2020.
The Secretary of State has already indicated that student completion deadlines will be extended beyond the current nine months so there is no need to worry about a student completing their program in a timely manner.
Summer and fall classes ARE available for enrollment – this can be done either online or by calling customer service at 1-800-374-8373.
Stay current as this situation changes by visiting our coronavirus operations update page.
COVID-19 Resources
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- Ohio Department of Public Health
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (COVID-19)
- Occupational Safety & Health Administration (COVID-19)
- World Health Organization (COVID-19)
- COVID-19 Screening Tool
- Travel Advisories
- State Executive Orders