The Ajman Public Transportation Authority (APTA) is helping to stop the spread of coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates by asking taxi drivers to sterilise their vehicles every day and to use sanitary masks while they perform their jobs.
Drivers are also having to undergo check-ups every week to ensure that they are fit and healthy and have not been infected by the virus.
APTA’s director of operations Omar Lootah says that this week alone, as many as 400 taxis have been sterilised, with all vehicles, including the likes of limousines, being completely cleaned inside and outside.
The cleaning is carried out with solutions that have previously been demonstrated to kill viruses and germs to ensure that both passengers and drivers are safe.
Other steps being taken by taxi drivers in Ajman include the attendance of workshops on hygiene and health to help contain exposure to the disease.
Taking cautionary steps and keeping proper hygiene is crucial to all people in the UAE and around the world, and motor vehicles are among the things that everyone needs to keep clean as a top priority.
Dubai Cars has been offering customers a number of tips on how to go about disinfecting their vehicles to help cut down the threat of the virus.
Items that are necessary to keep vehicles clean are hand soap, preferably antibacterial, a non-scratch cloth such as microfibre, hand sanitiser, disposable gloves and bleach-free wipes.
It is fairly easy to keep a motor vehicle clean, and to tackle the job, soap is an essential.
Although a bar of soap can be used, it is not recommended – any kind of household soap that comes in liquid form will do.
Surface areas should be scrubbed for a minimum of 20 seconds.
Disposable gloves must be worn at all times when cleaning a car.
It is important to remember that soap can keep coronavirus at bay, and the good news is that it is easily accessible.
Bleach should not be used to clean vehicles as it can result in damage, and the same applies to solvents.
Avoid using hand sanitiser to clean leather surfaces as this can result in the leather drying out.
Anything that is wiped on should also be wiped off in order to avoid leaving stains.
Surfaces that are most commonly used should be the priority, including such things as the door handles, seatbelts, infotainment system, steering wheel and gear selector.
Alcohol is also very effective for fighting the virus, particularly at 70%.
Never use bleach or water to clean either the steering wheel or infotainment system, as they can both cause serious damage to electronics.
Bleach-free wipes should be used to clean these items, and make sure that anyone who makes use of the system has clean hands. Anyone who drives a motor vehicle in the UAE has to be covered by law with a basic third-party car insurance policy, but more comprehensive policies are also available, including coverage for weather damage and car theft.