DRTN COVID-19 Risk Assessment Control Measures
It is clear that within the driving school environment and vehicle it is impossible to follow social distancing guidelines and remain two metres apart. Due to the practicalities of in-car training, whilst every reasonable measure will be taken, we cannot create a zero-risk environment. Pupils will, therefore, need alert to the risk of spreading this virus and any risks involved.
In making your decision to take driving lessons please bear in mind the following points:
- You must not attend if you or any of your household have any COVID-19 symptom’s (see below).
- You must not attend if you or any of your household are so at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 (e.g. aged 70+, pregnant, or under 70 with an underlying health condition outlined by the NHS).
- You must not attend if you have been told to self-isolate by the NHS Track and Trace system.
- If you require to cancel a session because of these reasons, there will be no cancellation fee.
The main symptoms of COVID-19 described by the government are (but not exclusively):
- A high temperature-this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature).
- A new continuous cough-this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough it may be worse than usual).
- A loss of taste or smell.
These are the additional measure that DRTN will be implementing for all driving lessons:
- Anti-bacterial and anti-viral cleaning of the car before and after every lesson.
- Hand washing/hand sanitising before and after every lesson. There will be hand sanitiser in the car which you can request at any time, although we would suggest you bring your own to avoid any allergy issues. Where possible all our instructors will use normal handwashing facilities as often as is possible between lessons.
- Avoiding and minimising contact of shared surfaces, such as pupil record sheets, pens and in-car resources. If possible, please bring a pen to the lessons.
- Avoiding and minimising as much as possible any face to face communication in car, if absolutely required this will be carried out outside of the car in a safe location.
- Vehicle windows will be down as much as possible during lessons to allow for ventilation, consider wearing suitable clothing as it might be somewhat cooler in the car.
- We will text or call you to confirm you’re good health before each lesson and to request you wash or sanitise your hands just prior to the lesson.
- Please try to avoid using cash, either use the in-car card payment machine or arrange a bank transfer.
- There can be no home debriefs, no home theory support and no additional passengers during this time.
- We will meet the clients at the car rather than the door, and no handshakes.
- Masks/Face covering-Following World Health Organization (WHO) guidance we will default to using face coverings during lessons, however, do discuss with your instructor any necessary exemptions. We will continually assess the risk of masks reducing communication inside of the car and causing glasses to mist up. We have our own reusable masks for ourselves which will be washed daily. Please bring with you your own mask/face covering so it is suitable for your needs and any allergies. If there is a problem, we do have a supply of disposable masks in the car. There is a small charge for these.
- Gloves are not compulsory, instead, we will be focused more on avoiding and minimising contact with shared surfaces, regular hand washing and cleaning of the car. If you do wish to wear gloves in-car this is clearly your choice and this is acceptable.
At any time the instructor may need to take emergency control during the lesson, such as assisting with the steering. This immediate danger outweighs the potential risk of infection. Plastic visors and internal car screens/dividers are not recommended due to potentially affecting insurance, communication and safety features such as airbags. If we do take emergency control, at a suitable and safe place, the controls will be cleaned.
If you do not feel there is sufficient protection, please do not attend the lesson.
Any precautions we take are intended to reduce risk without compromising the safety of driving, by attending the lesson you are agreeing to these measures. If there is anything else you can think of or any have any further concerns please let us know.
Let’s enjoy our training together but keep safe.
Paul Whitburn
Head of Training
Driver and Rider Training Nottingham
