Car sharing rules during the pandemic

There’s no argument – car sharing is usually a great thing. Not only does it cut back on travel costs for everyone, it makes the daily commute that little bit less stressful and is a great way to protect the environment. But amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, is it really the safest way to be travelling?

Car share with caution

During the nationwide lockdown, due to the increased risk of transmission in confined spaces, car sharing in the UK was strictly prohibited across the country. And even now, having returned to a ‘tiered’ system of local restrictions, there are only very specific circumstances in which it is allowed.

People in tier 1 are advised not to car share with people outside of their household or support bubble. But those in tier 2 and tier 3 are banned. Car sharing in these areas is not permitted unless the journey is taken for an ‘exempt reason’. The full list of exemptions can be found on the government’s website. But includes, for example, travelling for work or to provide a voluntary or charitable service, travelling for childcare or education, or to attend a wedding or funeral.

Of course, it’s incredibly difficult to social distance in a car – making it significantly easier for the virus to spread between passengers. Therefore, if car sharing is absolutely essential, there are a several precautionary steps that you are advised to take to decrease the risk of transmission and stay safe.

According to the current government guidance, you should:

• – car share with the same people each time
• – minimise the group size
• – open the windows to promote good ventilation
• – travel side by side or behind other people, where seating arrangements allow
• – face away from each other
• – keep the journey as short as possible
• – avoid physical contact and sit as far away from each other as possible
• – clean the car between journeys (particularly high-touch areas, such as door handles)
• – ask the driver and passengers to wear a mask
• – wash your hands for at least 20 seconds after the journey

These measures are not guaranteed to prevent the transmission of coronavirus. But they are the current ‘car sharing rules’ and the best way to protect yourself when a journey is necessary.

Is hiring a car a safer alternative?

If you can drive but don’t currently own a vehicle – and would prefer not to car share during these uncertain times – hiring a car could be the perfect short-term solution. After all, travelling alone is by far the safest way to travel at the moment. And with a range of vehicles available for daily or monthly rental, you can commute to work and school, without putting yourself at increased risk.

Here at PSD Vehicle Rental, your safety is our priority – and we’ve taken many steps to ensure our services are 100% COVID-secure. All of our hire cars are rigorously sanitised between each use, we continuously monitor the health of our staff and we offer a contactless ‘kerbside’ pick-up.

What’s more, we have a comprehensive range of vehicles to choose from – with something to suit all day-to-day needs – and all of our hire cars are available for a competitive price. Which means you can keep you and your family safe throughout the pandemic, without breaking the bank in the process.

To find out more about car hire and how it could be the ideal alternative to car sharing, please feel free to get in touch at any time. You can either give us a call on 0345 222 1022 or send an email to info@psdvehiclerental.co.uk. Alternatively, fill out our online provisional booking and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. These are difficult times for everyone and we want to help our community to stay safe yet stay on the GO as much as we can.