How to Keep Transit Vehicles Safe During the Coronavirus Outbreak

The coronavirus outbreak has changed the way Americans move about and travel – including on transit vehicles. To ensure your transit vehicles are safe and can help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, follow these tips to keep your fleet vehicles and your maintenance staff safe.

Properly Prepare Vehicles

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it’s important to keep transit vehicles clean and sanitized. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking the following steps:

• Clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces daily. These areas can include hard seats, arm rests, door handles, seat belt buckles, air controls, light controls, windows, walls and grab handles.
  
  
• Any surfaces that appear dirty should first be cleaned and then disinfected to remove any dirt or grime.
  
  
• Use appropriate disinfectants to properly remove germs. You should use products from the EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus. You can also use diluted household bleach solutions as long as they are prepared according to the manufacturer’s label. All solutions should contain at least 70-percent alcohol to effectively kill germs.
  
  
• Follow the instructions to ensure you are properly using each product.
  
  
• Wear personal protective equipment, as necessary, when cleaning the vehicles and using the disinfectant products.

Protect Maintenance Staff

In addition to keeping the transit vehicles clean, it’s also important to keep fleet maintenance employees safe and healthy. To reduce the chances of employees contracting COVID-19 by exposure to the virus on a surface or encountering a person who has the illness, the CDC recommends taking the following precautions:

• Maintain a safe social distance of at least 6 feet between shop workers.
  
  
• Avoid touching surfaces frequently touched by passengers.
  
  
• Clean and disinfect high-touch areas.
  
  
• Use hand sanitizer and wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water. Wash hands especially before touching your face, before eating, and after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.
  
  
• Wear personal protective equipment when able.
  
  
• Stay home if you are sick or not feeling well.

To learn how RTA Fleet Management Software can help you manage your transit fleet, contact us today to schedule a demo or start a free trial!