This month, we are providing tips to help prevent you from getting injured slipping on the ice, and also some helpful customer service and safety tips for picking up and dropping off your passengers.
Preventing Slips on Snow and Ice
To prevent slips, trips, and falls, the following precautions (provided by OSHA) will help reduce the likelihood of injuries that can occur from slipping on snow or ice.
- Wear proper footwear when walking on snow or ice. A pair of insulated, water-resistant boots with good rubber treads is your best bet for walking during or after a winter storm.
- During the winter months, keep a pair of rubber over-shoes with good treads, which fit over your street shoes, in the event you are faced with an unexpected storm while you are working.
- Take short steps and walk at a slower pace than usual so you can react quickly to a change in traction when walking on ice or snow.
Loading and Unloading Passengers
To ensure passenger safety and provide the best possible customer service, please take note of the following advice.
- Always signal, and pull as close to the curb as possible, when responding to a street hail or arriving to load or unload a passenger.
- When possible, pull into a passenger loading area without impeding traffic. Be prepared to proceed, and pull over to the nearest curb space, if necessary.
- Do your best to not delay traffic if a passenger enters your vehicle at a red light. Delaying traffic can lead to road rage incidents or rear-end collisions.
- After loading your passenger, let them know that their safety is your primary concern, and that when you arrive at their destination, you will open the door for them and assist them, when it is safe.
- If you only have one passenger, try to have them sit on the side of the vehicle that will be the curbside upon your arrival at their destination.
- Always check rearview and side-view mirrors prior to exiting your vehicle to assist a passenger. You should also check your mirrors, even if you are not exiting the vehicle to provide assistance, so you can let them know when it is safe for them to depart the vehicle.
- Always assist the passenger to the sidewalk before you retrieve their luggage or other items from the trunk.
- Before you unload the trunk, always scan the area behind you first to ensure there are no vehicles approaching in an unsafe manner.
- If you arrive to pick up a passenger or respond to a street hail, wait for other vehicles-for-hire loading at the curb to complete the process, so you can pull into their vacated spot.
- Try to avoid loading or unloading passengers or trunk items while your vehicle is double parked.
- Do not leave cash or other valuables openly exposed in the front seat while you are assisting a passenger or attending to the trunk.
