Hygiene qualification launched for taxi industry

A hygiene training course for taxi and personalised transport drivers was launched today to ensure drivers understand and use hygiene best practises during the COVID-19 crisis.

TAA and driver professional development provider, DRVR Training, have partnered to ensure drivers and operators are up to speed on cleaning and sanitising requirements and standards needed to keep drivers and passengers safe.

TAA national president André Baruch said at times like this the industry needed a cleaning standard and certification to give passengers confidence when they had no other options for travel.

"Taxis and other personalised transport operators are essential services and many vulnerable people in our communities already rely on them for day-to-day access to shopping and medical appointments," he said.

"It's vital that we keep taxis and personalised transport options on the roads to give these groups access to essential services."

DRVR Training director Jacqui Shephard said there was a lot of uncertainty and anxiety surrounding the industry in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is crucial training for drivers which is why we are offering it for free to all drivers."

The course is designed to give them information on hygiene practices that will keep drivers and passengers safe, reassured and confident to use personalised transport now and into the future," she said.

The course gives drivers an understanding of the virus and why proper hygiene is important, practical instructions for sanitising vehicles and guidance for communication with passengers, dealing with sick passengers and those who need assistance.

Mr Baruch said as travel restrictions change over coming weeks many people would find travelling to the supermarket or regular medical appointments increasingly difficult.

"It is the elderly, immune compromised and people with disability who will find increased travel restrictions particularly difficult and it's important that we have, as an industry, a standard that ensures they are still able to get to appointments in the safest possible way," he said. View course details here.