FREE NOW releases safe travel guidelines for drivers and passengers

As Ireland approaches phase one of easing lockdown restrictions from Monday, taxi app FREE NOW is releasing new safe travel guidelines to drivers and passengers.

Measures include encouraging drivers and passengers to wear face coverings when travelling, not to travel in groups larger than two people, always to sit in the back seat, enter the destination before the trip and always to wash hands before and after travelling. The company has also been encouraging passengers to avoid paying by cash to limit the spread of the virus.

In addition, FREE NOW is strongly encouraging drivers to install a partition screen in their taxis to separate drivers from passengers. The screens, which have already become mandatory in several European countries, are intended to be used in addition to all other precautionary measures recommended by the HSE, NTA, and relevant bodies. FREE NOW is helping to support drivers in sourcing partition screens.

Alan Fox, General Manager of FREE NOW Ireland said: “Over the past two months we have seen taxi drivers step up to keep essential workers moving across Ireland. Now, as we approach the first phase of the lockdown easing, we want to ensure that drivers and passengers feel protected over the coming months as the country starts to open up again.

“By encouraging passengers and drivers to wear face coverings, limit the number of people travelling and install partitions we hope to play our part in helping to get the country moving again in a safe and responsible way.”

FREE NOW has been rolling out thousands of pieces of PPE including hundreds of partition screens, bottles of hand sanitiser and masks to drivers working throughout the COVID-19 lockdown.