The world is likely to feel a little different when the Coronavirus pandemic comes to an end. At least for the short term, we can expect to see more safety measures in place in all public spaces, including offices, bars, restaurants, shopping centres and attractions.
But the pandemic has also led to a shift in our behaviours and habits. Many people have become more ‘safety conscious’, which has directly impacted things like how they wish to travel around when the virus is no longer.
A study from London-based private taxi hire company Addison Lee claims that Covid will ‘revolutionise’ the daily commute. That’s after six out of 10 London commuters said they would be altering the way they travel when the return to work begins.
As Personnel Today reports, the 56% of commuters who are going to change their commuting habits when they go back to the office are planning the following:
- 55% want to change their commute hours to dodge peak times
- 49% want to use their own mode of transport
- 28% will be walking as part of the commute
- 40% want to use private hire vehicles as part of the commute
So, why will there be such a drastic change in commuting habits? The survey found that, mainly, it’s because people don’t have much confidence in public transport, and are concerned about safety when travelling on buses and trains.
Even though face coverings have become mandatory, 69% of commuters in the survey said that they still feel anxious when travelling on public transport. This increases to 70% of people who are worried at the thought of work colleagues taking buses and trains.
Over seven in 10 (72%) told Addison Lee that they will avoid the tube unless it’s absolutely necessary in order to get to and from their place of work.
The implications for taxi drivers
The fact that 40% of commuters plan to now use private hire vehicles as part of their commute is good news for taxi drivers, as it certainly suggests that more people will be using public hire vehicles to get to and from their workplace, as well.
If you’re a self-employed taxi driver, then you may have been one of the many who struggled to keep their business afloat during the pandemic. Lockdown rules and the fact that many businesses moved to remote working put a huge strain on the taxi industry.
So the fact that more commuters will be hailing or booking cabs to get to work will be a light at the end of the tunnel for many taxi drivers. More and more workers are now returning to their offices having spent months working from home, so you should see business picking up significantly in the very near future.
Appealing to the new safety-conscious commuter
With more people concerned over their safety as a result of Coronavirus, it’s really important that you put their minds at ease in your taxi. Besides, it’s vital to take extra precautions in order to keep you and your passengers safe.
Here’s a list of things you should be doing to provide a safe environment when driving customers in your taxi – some of which you’re probably doing already:
- Wipe down surfaces after each journey with quality disinfectant, paying particular attention to seats, seatbelts and door handles (both inside and outside)
- Consider installing a shield between you and passengers in the back
- Have a thorough clean of your taxi between shifts
- Wear a face mask and only let passengers travel if they are wearing a face mask, too
- Don’t be afraid to ask passengers if they have any symptoms of Coronavirus before accepting them into your taxi
- Store alcohol-based hand gel/wipes in your taxi with you at all times
- Provide hand gel that customers can use when getting inside your cab
- Keep windows open whenever possible to ensure good ventilation throughout the taxi
- Wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds whenever possible
- Make a conscious effort not to touch your face during your shift. If you need to sneeze or cough then use a tissue
If you run a taxi business with multiple vehicles and drivers, then it’s important to sit down with all employees to go through the extra safety measures and stress their importance. For the time being, you could consider carrying out regular inspections to ensure that all your staff are adhering to the new safety standards you’ve put in place.
Let your customers know!
The important thing is that customers feel safe with your taxi firm. If they’re aware of all the steps you’ve taken to keep them safe, then you can inspire them to use your company in future rather than a competitor. It could really help you to draw in those customers at a time when lots of taxi businesses will be desperate for custom.
There’s no harm in sharing your efforts on your website or social media channels, just to let people know in advance about what you’re doing to keep them safe.
You could go as far as to create a specific page on your website that lists your safety measures. Or, simply pinning a post to your Facebook and Twitter pages will make sure it’s the first thing potential customers see.
Next stop, taxi insurance
As you work hard to keep yourself, your drivers and your customers safe, you also need to think about protecting your business with taxi insurance.
Here at Taxi Insurer, we can help to arrange cover that suits the type of businesses you own, for a price that’s right. Whether you’re buying insurance individually or as a company, and whatever type of taxi or taxis you operate, it’s our job to arrange a policy that matches your unique needs.
Getting a taxi insurance quote is simpler than you think – and it’ll be a quick process if you have your reg number and driving licence to hand. Benefits of taxi insurance through us can include:
- Low monthly payments
- Public Liability cover
- Discounts for DSA taxi test
Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.