Ridesharing services have implemented new safety rules to protect passengers, as Sandra Kesh, M.D., told Good Housekeeping. Those safety measures include discontinuing shared rides and encouraging riders to wear masks, use hand sanitizer, and avoid riding if possible — especially if they have COVID-19 symptoms. Uber now requires drivers to provide photographic evidence that they are wearing masks when they start their shifts, and has restricted passengers to only sitting in the rear row of the vehicle.
That being said, Kesh said that the safest thing to do is to avoid ridesharing services (and taxis) as much as possible. Sitting in a car is going to be risky regardless of the precautions passengers and drivers take as there is no way to maintain a distance of six feet inside a vehicle and there is a risk of coming into contact with airborne droplets.
"I think with some scenarios, it's kind of too soon to get back to normal — and this is one of them, unfortunately," said Kesh. If you need to go somewhere by car, Kesh said it's safest to have a friend or relative drive you because you'll likely have a better idea of their health and if any potentially ill passengers have been in the car. You could also consider renting a car, or getting to your destination by bicycle if possible.
