TFL - UPDATED ADVICE FOR TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE LICENSEES - 12 MAY
On 12 May, the Govern- ment published guid- ance for those operat-
ing transport services (this is relevant to all taxi and PHV licensees) and specific guid- ance for taxi and private hire services.
SOCIAL DISTANCING BETWEEN DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS IN TAXIS AND PHVS
• Taxi and PHV drivers should ask if cus- tomers have symptoms of possible Covid-19 (fever or new cough) and should not accept symptomatic customers.
• Drivers and passengers should occupy the vehicle allowing for 2m social distancing (or maximum possible distance). Where it is not possible to remain 2m apart, drivers and passengers should face away from each other, rather than face-to-face if pos- sible. Where face-to-face contact cannot be avoided, this should be kept to 15 min- utes or less wherever possible.
• Good ventilation (i.e. keeping the win- dows open) may help to reduce the risk of transmission. Air conditioning or ventila- tion on vehicles must be set to extract and not recirculate the air within the vehi- cle where possible.
FACE COVERINGS
The latest Government advice suggests that wearing a face covering does not protect you, but it may protect others if you are infected but have not yet developed symp- toms. This is most relevant for short periods indoors in crowded areas.
A face covering is not the same as the surgi- cal masks or respirators used by healthcare and other workers as part of personal pro- tective equipment (PPE). These should continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against risks in their work- place, such as health and care workers.
We are therefore advising that all taxi and private hire drivers working through this period consider wearing a face covering while in their licensed vehicle. To help taxi and private hire drivers have access to appropriate face coverings we are request- ing all taxi and app booking companies, and all PHV operators, wherever possible to sup- port drivers in sourcing supplies for drivers.
HAND HYGIENE
Public Health England has published guid- ance for employers regarding hand hygiene, and this should be followed by those work- ing in taxis and PHVs.
Drivers should wash hands more regularly than normal using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing is particu-
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larly important after using the toilet or han- dling money, before eating or before touching your face, and after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing. Hands should be washed as soon as drivers get home. When hand washing facilities are not avail- able, hand sanitiser can be used as a substitute.
Drivers should keep a bottle of hand sanitis- er gel in their vehicle. It is recommended this be a minimum 60 per cent alcohol. Alternatively keep a large bottle of water and a bar/bottle of soap.
Drivers are advised to avoid handling money and take alternative payment meth- ods. If handling money cannot be avoided, drivers should wash their hands with soap and water after handling money.
Drivers and passengers should carry tissues and use tissues to catch coughs or sneezes. Used tissues should be disposed of in a bin as soon as possible. Hand sanitiser should be used after coughing or sneezing into a tissue.
USE OF GLOVES
Regarding the wearing of gloves to protect transport workers from coronavirus: • Gloves, if used inappropriately, could increase the risk of transmitting infection.
• Wearing gloves may discourage adequate hand hygiene practices, including frequent hand washing.
• Wearing gloves does not prevent transmis- sion of infection to the wearer if they touch their face whilst wearing them.
• If gloves become contaminated, any objects that are touched with the gloves can also become contaminated.
• Gloves would need to be changed each time the employee has touched cash, and this would pose practical problems as well as increasing infection risk during the changeover to new gloves.
Therefore, the routine use gloves is not recommended for transport workers.
CLEANING OF VEHICLES
Cleaning vehicles with normal household disinfectant will reduce the risk of passing coronavirus infection on to other people. After each passenger journey, drivers should clean hard surfaces such as door handles, window winders, seat belts, card payment devices, the rear of the front seats and other surfaces passengers may have touched. Drivers should then wash/sanitise their own hands.
A thorough clean of the vehicle with normal cleaning products should be completed at the end of each shift/working day.
USE OF PARTITIONS OR SCREENS IN TAXIS AND PHVS
Partitions or safety screens provide a physi- cal barrier between drivers and passengers in the vehicle. They are commonly installed as a safety feature to protect the driver from physical attacks or theft.
There has been an increase in interest of the use of screens as a way of providing physi- cal separation between drivers and passengers in order to reduce the transmis- sion of Covid-19.
The majority of PHVs in London do not have partitions/safety screens installed. There are a wide variety of different makes and model of PHVs in London.
There is no evidence available that demon- strates that partitions in taxis or PHVs reduce the risk of transmission of Covid-19 infection. Partitions in taxis or PHVs do not provide a fully sealed compartment which completely separates the driver from the passenger. Therefore, whilst it is possible that partitions may reduce the risk of trans- mission of infection, the risk would not be eliminated entirely.
It is not possible to assess the likely effec- tiveness of screens in reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in taxis or PHVs.
If drivers wish to install a partition or safety screen, vehicles will need to comply to gov- ernment and industry regulations and TfL’s requirements as the licensing authority1
.
If partitions or screens are used, they should be cleaned regularly including between pas- senger journeys and changes of driver.
1 Any fittings and equipment must comply with the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regula- tions. Any screen must be tested to the relevant EU standard for an original equipment type approval test covering interior fittings. The screen must be approved by MIRA or other com- parable independent product engineering, testing, consultancy and certification organisa- tion. Screens must be professionally and securely fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Certification from the vehicle’s man- ufacturer should be sought to confirm that the screen does not compromise the integrity of the vehicle structure. Screens should be constructed of PETg or polycarbonate. The screen should not impede the driver’s vision, movement, or com- munication with passengers. The screen should not impede driver or passenger access or egress to the vehicle. Insurers should be notified of any modifications made to the vehicle. Prior to installing a safety screen, drivers should contact the licensing authority (TfL) to check that they will permit the installation and ensure that the screen and installation will meet their require- ments.
JUNE 2020
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