Taxi businesses – do’s and don’ts in times of crisis

Thankfully, the taxi industry in most European countries is still up and running as people tentatively need to get from point A to B without relying on the more ‘dangerous’ public transport systems.

However, there are some good and bad practices that you as a taxi business owner or driver should know about when transporting passengers to their destinations.

In this blog post, we’ll cover the do’s and don’ts for taxi services in times of a crisis.

Keep reading for more!

Do – Transport one passenger at a timе

With social distancing becoming a reality for many of us, taxi drivers and owners should consider changing their strategy for how many people they transport at a given time.

One of the best practices in the COVID-19 scenario is to only transport one passenger at a time. This will minimise the spread of the virus, and will also ensure that both the driver (who interacts with multiple clients throughout the day) and their client are safe and healthy.

Do – Use contactless card machines

Of course, paying for a taxi service is a must and accepting payments should be a seamless experience. This is why adopting mobile POS terminals in your payment offering is a great solution.

They’re safe to use, require zero contact with the client, and are a much healthier and safer option than accepting cash. There are also easy ways for you to clean your credit card machine before and after each use, so that everyone stays healthy.

In addition, myPOS terminals offer a tipping function, so if your client is satisfied with your service and you’ve gone the extra mile for them, give them the option to show you their appreciation by allowing them to tip you. All it takes is pressing a few buttons and you’re all set!

Do – Disinfect your taxi after every trip

Take health and safety precautions seriously and you’ll help prevent the spread of the pandemic while running your business. This means applying disinfectant sprays and liquids to your vehicle (inside and outside) before and after transporting passengers.

You’ll be taking care of both their health as well as your own!

Don’t – Accept groups of passengers

Transporting groups of passengers is a major safety factor and goes against what we mention in the paragraph above. It’s important for you to refuse transporting more than one passenger for their safety.

Offer to call them another taxi or get them in touch with one of your colleagues who can help take them to their destination, but don’t transport more than one individual at a time.

Don’t – Leave cleaning to the last minute

Going to the carwash once a week is now a thing of the past. It’s not about having an aesthetically pleasing taxi, but rather about a healthy and disinfected one.

The tip we mentioned above about disinfecting your taxi before and after every trip applies here as well. You simply don’t know what health condition your passenger finds themselves in, or whether they’re a carrier of the virus.

With its fast-spreading nature, you don’t want to be the cause of an infection. Thoroughly cleaning your taxi – both inside and outside – will create a much safer environment for you and your passengers. Choose the right disinfectant for your vehicle and wipe down seats, dashboards, steering wheels and safety belts (amongst others).

Don’t – Skimp out on the details

As a responsible taxi driver, we recommend that you make a small investment in face masks, gloves and even goggles to protect all physical entry points for the virus.

Practice good hygiene habits and maintain a healthy lifestyle as far as that’s possible. By not skimping out on the details and taking care of yourself, you’ll also be taking good care of your passengers and they’ll appreciate your efforts.

It all starts with you!

As a taxi driver, you’re in the front lines of the pandemic as you’re carrying out an essential function in society.

Yours and your passengers’ health should be at the forefront of your concerns as you drive each individual to their destination.

By taking the abovementioned steps and sticking to best practices whilst avoiding bad ones, you’ll ensure that everyone in your community is safe, healthy and protected.