Home » Latest News & Blog » New Regulations in Mass Transit – Sneezeguards on Rideshare Vehicles

New Regulations in Mass Transit – Sneezeguards on Rideshare Vehicles

Companies in a wide array of industries are currently working on improving safety conditions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including sneezeguards on rideshare vehicles.

Companies like Uber and Lyft, along with the drivers who work for them, are incorporating sneeze guards to provide a safer environment for both passengers and drivers. A plastic fabrication company can help you create clear plastic sheets that provide easy and advanced protection to help both drivers and passengers feel safer and more comfortable on the road. If you’re interested in using this solution, here’s what you need to know. 

The Importance of Safety and Sanitation for Rideshare Vehicles

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have revolutionized the way that many people get around. Customers can use mobile apps to find reliable, on-demand transportation options for getting to a variety of destinations, from non-emergency doctor’s appointments to work. These companies provide essential services, especially in communities where many people don’t have their own vehicles and may not have easy access to traditional taxis. Particularly during a pandemic, many individuals are likely to prefer using rideshare services over mass transit options where tons of people pack into crowded busses or trains. 

However, these vehicles generally still put the driver and passenger into relatively close contact with one another, which could put the parties at risk if one has been exposed to the virus or other infectious germs. Most common vehicles are not large enough to provide six feet of space between those in the front and back seats. And if a driver has been in close contact with other passengers throughout the day, that means the passenger is essentially coming into contact with those other individuals as well. 

This doesn’t mean that rideshare services should stop operating or that passengers should avoid them when they need safe and reliable transportation. But common sense safety measures can and should be put into place to provide a safer environment for both drivers and passengers. And working with a plastic fabrication company to create and install sneeze guards in vehicles may be part of a larger safety initiative for rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, as well as other transportation providers like traditional taxis or mass transit vehicles. 

How Sneeze Guards Can Help Improve Safety in Rideshare Vehicles

Sneeze guards are plastic partitions that create a physical barrier between drivers and passengers in vehicles. You’ve likely seen similar setups in traditional taxis. However, those plastic barriers have generally been used for security purposes. In this instance, sneezeguards on rideshare vehicles can be installed to prevent or slow the spread of germs between individuals in the front and back seat of the car. 

These barriers are made using clear, thin-gauge plastic that’s durable and impact resistant. This means it’s lightweight and safe for use in vehicles. But it also helps to facilitate easy communication between drivers and passengers. When the two sides need to discuss a location or just want to have a general conversation, they’re able to do so easily. And the crystal clarity of the plastic allows each side to see through to the other, which is especially important for safety on the road. 

A plastic fabrication company can create custom sneeze guards that fit each vehicle perfectly to provide the best possible protection for both drivers and passengers. This barrier is designed to completely separate the two sides to prevent germs from travelling directly from one person to the other. So if a passenger coughs or sneezes from the backseat, those particles should stop when they hit the plastic sneeze guard, rather than traveling to the driver up front. This can also prevent drivers from transmitting viruses or germs to passengers behind them. Since drivers are likely to come into contact with several individuals throughout each day, this can dramatically reduce the likelihood of them coming into contact with harmful germs. And this ultimately makes conditions more favorable for other passengers who ride with those drivers as well. 

In addition to stopping germs from travelling directly from one person to the other, sneeze guards are also flat and easy to clean and sanitize. So rideshare vehicles can remain clean, and germs are less likely to spread to new passengers once the original rider reaches their destination. 

Though sneezeguards on rideshare vehicles and other measures can’t completely eliminate the threat of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, they can be part of a larger plan to dramatically improve safety conditions in a variety of environments — including in rideshare vehicles. These barriers are designed to simply separate the two sections so air doesn’t easily flow between the two. That simple change can stop particles from infected individuals from traveling to those who have not been affected. And it can help Uber and Lyft drivers stay on the road, earning an income and providing essential transportation services to people in their communities. 

If you’re looking for a plastic fabrication company to help create sneeze guards for rideshare vehicles, contact Polymershapes to request a free quote. We offer high quality plastic materials from top manufacturers that are designed to meet the unique needs of clients in various industries, including transportation providers, retail establishments, energy companies, and even schools. Our Dayton fabrication center is outfitted with state of the art machining equipment, which allows us to offer expert conversion capabilities and completely customize parts and components to the exact needs of each client. Additionally our helpful team is always available to answer questions and help clients choose optimal materials. To discuss sneeze guards for taxis or rideshare vehicles, visit our website and request a quote today. A member of our team will get back to you within 24 hours.