MasterDrive provides carpooling and ride-sharing tips

After the announcement by our president that most of South Africa will be moving to Level 3 in terms of lockdown regulations by the end of May, a large proportion of our economic activity will resume and therefore, many road users and commuters will be returning to our national roads.

MasterDrive has provided some fantastic advice during our national lockdown and has again weighed in with some helpful carpooling and ride-sharing advice to reduce congestion, save fuel, money and of course, practice safe driving habits.

Managing director of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says the main regulation is the reduction of the number of people in a car to three. “Other legal requirements include wearing masks and leaving after 5 am due to curfew. Another important regulation is to have a permit that allows you to travel to work.

“Yet, even with these restrictions in place, travelling in a vehicle with people that you have not been in lockdown with still exposes you to a higher risk of contracting the virus. Consequently, each person should follow additional procedures to further reduce this risk.”

MasterDrive has provided some tips on how to do this:

-If you are able to, travel to work by yourself rather than carpool. The considerable decrease in the petrol price will also assist with this.

-If this is impossible, agree between yourselves to sanitise the car daily.

-Require passengers to complete a risk questionnaire daily. If any person starts to show symptoms or displays high risk, arrange for them to see a doctor.

-If there are only two people in the car, the passenger should sit in the back and not in the passenger seat.

-Keep sanitiser in the car for the driver and passengers.

-Request all passengers to put their belongings in the boot.

-Ensure proper ventilation in the vehicle by keeping the windows open.

Here are some tips provided for ride-sharing apps such as Uber

-If you transport a client that does not declare their risk or does not follow the recommended guidelines, you are within your rights to refuse service.

-These drivers should monitor their own health as well and if you display symptoms, see a doctor before resuming work.

-Place signage in your vehicles requesting passengers to follow the correct hygiene etiquette.