Coronavirus has changed the way we all live our lives, and has affected every single aspect of our daily routine, from shopping to the morning commute. The ‘New Normal’ is very different from our old routines, with social distancing, meticulous cleanliness, and even wearing a mask at all times when we’re out and about.

As we slowly come out of the pandemic and try to regain some sense of normality, we’ll still need to exercise caution to prevent the virus from taking hold a second time. That includes rethinking how we travel in our cars for pleasure or the daily commute into and from work. To help you we’ve put together a few safety tips and measures you should be taking both inside and out of your car.

What can you do in your car to stay safe?

Social distancing includes enclosed spaces such as cars, so you shouldn’t offer friends or work colleagues a ride, even if you know them well. Keep the occupants of any car journey to close family only, and from the same household or a very small ‘bubble’ of close contacts (no more than three or four at the most).

Hand-washing is one of the easiest ways to beat the virus, so make sure you wash your hands before you get into your car, and again once you exit it at journey’s end. If you can’t wash your hands with soap and water, make sure you have a container of hand sanitizer with you to use instead.

Safety tip: Please bear in mind that both hand sanitizer and latex gloves are highly flammable, so do not leave them in a hot car or in direct sunlight, especially during the summer. Our top tip: buy a pocket-sized container of hand sanitizer and carry it with you so you remember to use it whenever you’re out and about.

Weekly cleaning

If you use your car every day then a thorough weekly valet is the best way to keep things safe and clean. The virus doesn’t live very long on most surfaces, but can survive for up to several days on some such as plastics and metal. However, in higher temperatures the virus becomes inactive. A wash with soap and warm water shown to be sufficient to remove any traces of the virus from exterior surfaces – concentrate on key contact points such as door handles, and around the doorframe including the roof.

Inside, make sure that any rubbish such as used tissues, is properly disposed of, and wipe down key contact points such as the steering wheel, gear selector lever, parking brake, seatbelts and glove box to make sure they’re all thoroughly cleaned.

When you arrive

While there’s been much debate about the use of personal protective equipment (or PPE), the general consensus is that masks are useful in controlling transmission of the disease. Gloves, however, can be problematic, especially if you wear the same pair and visit multiple locations, which can actually spread the disease through contact. It’s far better to avoid wearing gloves and use hand sanitizer regularly, and wash your hands whenever possible. If you wear gloves to a store then make sure you remove them carefully before you get back into your car to avoid potential cross-contamination.

Overall, the easiest way to stay save while driving during the Coronavirus emergency is to maintain high levels of personal hygiene and cleanliness. Covid-19 can be beaten through simple and practical techniques, and plenty of warm, soapy water!

Stay up to date with the latest developments surrounding COVID-19 by monitoring government sources in the UAE and official health professionals.

Dubai Head Office, Al Rashidiya Dubai Airport Terminal 1 Dubai Airport Terminal 3 Dubai Motor City Dubai Marina Dubai Festival City Abu Dhabi Airport Al Reem, Abu Dhabi Al Reef, Abu Dhabi Sharjah Airport Al Hamra Mall, RAK

Dubai Head Office, Al Rashidiya

Address

Um Ramool, Rashidiya,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 2060206

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 07:00-22:00

Dubai Airport Terminal 1

Address

Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall, Dubai International Airport,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 2245222

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 24 hours

Dubai Airport Terminal 3

Address

Terminal 3 Arrivals Hall, Dubai International Airport,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 2203013

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 24 hours

Dubai Motor City

Address

Shop 8, Ground Floor, Foxhill 8, Motor City,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 4273200

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 08:00-20:00 Saturday; Closed

Dubai Marina

Address

Hertz - Dubai Marina City Premiere Marina Deluxe Hotel Apartment ,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 4226775

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 08:00-20:00 Saturday Closed

Dubai Festival City

Address

InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City,
Dubai ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 4 7011239

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 09:00 - 15:00 Saturday; Closed

Abu Dhabi Airport

Address

AUH Terminal A Rental Returns, short term park 2nd level,
Abu Dhabi ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 2805 8090 971 2805 8089

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 24 hours

Al Reem, Abu Dhabi

Address

Marina Square, Al Reem Island,
Abu Dhabi ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 2 6320494

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 09:00 - 15:00 Saturday; Closed

Al Reef, Abu Dhabi

Address

Al Reef Downtown, ,
Abu Dhabi ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 2 645 8488

Opening Hours

Sunday-Friday; 09:00 - 15:00 Saturday; Closed

Sharjah Airport

Address

Inside Arrivals Terminal, Kiosk 2, Outside baggage claim area, Sharjah Airport,
Sharjah ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 6 5528290

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday; 08:00-20:00

Al Hamra Mall, RAK

Address

Unit 52, First Floor, Al Hamra Mall, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Salem Rd,
Ras Al Khaimah ,
United Arab Emirates 36800

Phone

971 7 2434386

Opening Hours

Monday - Sunday: 10:00 to 16:00, 19:00 to 22:00

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