In order to prevent and control the epidemic, please collect this self-driving return safety guide.

With the increasing number of people infected with novel coronavirus (hereinafter referred to as "COVID-19 epidemic"), our Spring Festival holiday has to be extended, and many areas even extended to resume work at +00 on February 6th. However, as the holiday draws to a close, the return peak is coming.

However, since the epidemic has not been completely controlled, everyone needs to pay special attention to personal protection when returning. Under the current circumstances, self-driving has undoubtedly become a relatively safe way to travel. Compared with trains or planes, fewer people come into contact with each other when driving, so there is no need to stay in crowded places for a long time while waiting for buses or planes. But this does not mean that there is no risk of infection when driving, and personal protection is still needed during driving.

February 1 Drive back to Shanghai from my hometown in Shandong. The whole journey is about 850 kilometers, and the total time is about 10 hour and 25 minutes. This is a long journey. Today, I would like to share with you my protection experience on this self-driving return trip for your reference.

Before departure: route planning, material preparation

In order to curb the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, many places have closed the entrances to expressways. When I drove off, most of the entrances to the three expressways in my hometown were closed. However, I found that the map APP on the mobile phone may not have received the closing information of the high-speed entrance, and did not avoid these closed entrances in time when planning the route. At this time, you need to plan your own high-speed route. Information about the closure of the high-speed entrance can be found on the official WeChat WeChat official account of the local government. Of course, in addition to the closure of the high-speed entrance at the departure point, the high-speed exit at the destination may also be closed, so you need to check in advance.

In addition, both Gaode Map and Baidu Map, which are commonly used by everyone, have launched the function of "use in the future". You can check which time period takes the least time and try to choose the time point that takes the least time. It takes the least time, which means fewer vehicles on the road, fewer people in the service area and less contact with strangers. Of course, the prediction of this function is not very accurate, and everyone needs to make a reasonable plan according to their own experience.

Next is the preparation of some materials. Everyone must prepare some protective equipment except luggage. I have prepared disinfectant wipes, alcohol spray, masks, glasses and so on. For example, my trip takes a long time, and I don't want to eat in a crowded service area restaurant, so I also prepared hot water, self-heating hot pot, bread, drinks and other food. In addition, before I left, I learned from my colleagues in Shanghai that the supply of vegetables in Shanghai was tight, so I brought some vegetables in case there was no food after I returned to Shanghai (I found that the supply of vegetables in Shanghai had returned to normal).

At the same time, Shanghai started the registration of foreigners on February 2. Self-driving into Shanghai requires issuing a registration code. Friends who come to Shanghai by car remember to register on their mobile phones before leaving. In order to prevent the spread of the epidemic, some cities have banned outsiders from entering. Everyone must check the traffic conditions at the destination in advance. It will be a waste of time if you can't get into the destination city.

The above are the protective preparations that need to be made before departure. Don't forget to check the tire pressure, tires, oil and other car conditions in advance.

On the way: strengthen the awareness of prevention

The risk of infection on the way is mainly in service areas, temperature checkpoints and gas stations. At present, most service areas and provincial boundary stations are equipped with temperature check points, which can detect fever personnel in time. However, according to news reports, many asymptomatic infection cases have been found recently, and the incubation period in COVID-19 is as long as 7- 14 days. Temperature examination can't rule out all risks, so everyone must strengthen their awareness of protection in the service area and can't take it lightly.

The principle of personal protection on the way is to minimize contact with strangers and pay attention to personal disinfection. When we enter the service area, we usually park our car near the entrance and exit of the hall or bathroom, but these places have the largest flow of people and poor air quality. Therefore, we suggest that you park your car as far away from the entrance and exit of the hall as possible. Wear a mask, glasses or goggles when getting off the bus, and try not to expose your body to the air.

Recently, some researchers found that COVID-19 patients also had virus residues in their feces and touched doorknobs. Therefore, everyone must wash their hands after the convenience in the service area, and it is best to wash them thoroughly with sterilized hand sanitizer. Since there are few service areas that provide hand sanitizer, you should disinfect your hands with disinfectant or alcoholic wet wipes. Don't touch your nose, mouth and other facial parts with unsterilized hands.

If the journey is long, we will inevitably eat on the way, but the kitchens of restaurants in the service area are mostly open or semi-open. Snacks such as sausages and pies are even sold at stalls. In a mixed environment, it is difficult to ensure sanitary conditions, so I don't recommend eating in restaurants in the service area. You'd better bring your own food like me and eat it in the car or away from the crowd.

Many smokers are used to getting off at the service area for a cigarette to relieve fatigue. In the past, most smokers gathered at the entrance and exit of the service hall to smoke. As mentioned earlier, the entrance and exit of the service hall are not safe. Friends who need to smoke try to smoke in places where there are few people, and remember to put out the finished cigarette butts before throwing them into the trash can. However, during the rush hour, some service areas may be crowded with vehicles and parking spaces are tight, so you must take off your mask to smoke. Therefore, it is recommended that smokers try not to smoke on the way. If you are really sleepy, you can rest in the car or have some energy drinks or coffee to refresh yourself.

Before leaving the service area, everyone must spray the mask and the whole body clothes with disinfectant or medical alcohol before getting on the bus. Please remember that sterilized masks can't be used again. The reason for disinfection is to prevent the virus on the outer surface from volatilizing in the car. In addition, the cockpit in the car, especially the carpet, seat, steering wheel, center console and other places that are in contact with people, also need to be disinfected with disinfectant water or disinfectant wipes. After disinfection, only after driving out of the service area completely can you take off your mask or open the window for ventilation.

When we arrive at the checkpoint and need to take our temperature, most inspectors will use the temperature gun, and the inspection time is very short. However, it will still cause traffic jams during rush hours. When queuing in traffic jam, everyone needs to wear a mask and try to avoid opening the window. The air conditioner adopts internal circulation mode. Although you don't need to get off the bus to check your body temperature, you still need to open the window to get in close contact with the inspectors, so you need to disinfect the masks and clothes after the inspection. These protective measures also apply to refueling at gas stations.

Arrival: ventilation and disinfection, conscious isolation

After arriving at the destination, everyone needs to wear a mask when getting off the bus, especially in this sensitive area in the elevator room. In addition, after entering the residence, it is necessary to disinfect the mask, whole body clothes and hands. I believe everyone closed the doors and windows when they came home years ago. Remember to ventilate and wash your hands frequently when you arrive. And consciously go to the neighborhood Committee or register foreigners on the mobile phone, and consciously isolate at home for two weeks if necessary.

During the isolation, you should take your temperature every day and pay attention to your physical condition. In addition, everyone should try to cook by themselves during this time, and don't order takeout. Even if you are not good at cooking, I believe that half a month is enough for you to grow into a chef.

The above is my summary of self-driving return protection experience. At this time, I am isolated at home, hoping to bring help to friends with the same situation. Finally, I wish everyone can stay away from the virus and return to work safely and smoothly.

This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.