To prevent and control the epidemic, please collect this self-driving return safety strategy.

As more and more people are infected with novel coronavirus (hereinafter referred to as "COVID-19 epidemic"), our Spring Festival holiday has to be extended, and many areas have even been extended to resume work on February 10. 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, there are fewer people who come into contact by car, so you don't need to stay in crowded places for a long time when 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 experience in ensuring my 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 entrance to expressway. 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 in the official WeChat account of the local government. Of course, in addition to 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, the commonly used Gaode map and Baidu map 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 that there are 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, I have a long trip and 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 foods. In addition, I learned from my colleagues in Shanghai that the supply of vegetables in Shanghai was tight, so I brought some vegetables in case I didn't have food when 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. Small partners who come to Shanghai by car, remember to register their mobile phones before departure. In order to prevent the spread of the epidemic, some cities have banned outsiders from entering. Everyone must check the traffic conditions of the destination in advance. If you can't enter the destination city, it's a waste of time.

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 area, temperature measuring point and gas station. At present, most service areas and provincial boundary stations are equipped with temperature detection 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 check can't rule out all risks, so we must strengthen our awareness of protection in the service area and don'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 the bathroom, but these places have the largest traffic and the air quality is not good. 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 have found that there are virus residues in the feces of patients with COVID-19 and the doorknobs they have touched, so everyone must wash their hands after the convenience in the service area, and it is best to wash them thoroughly with sterilized hand sanitizer. Because there are few service areas that provide hand sanitizer, you should disinfect your hands with disinfectant or alcoholic 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 most of the restaurants and kitchens in the service area are open or semi-open. Snacks such as sausages and pies are even sold at stalls. In a mixed environment, sanitary conditions are difficult to guarantee, so I don't recommend eating in restaurants in service areas. 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 and smoking a cigarette in the service area 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 and throw them into the trash can. However, during rush hours, some service areas may be crowded with vehicles and parking spaces are tight, so you have to take off your mask and smoke. Therefore, it is recommended that smokers try not to smoke on the way. If you are really sleepy, rest in the car or have some energy drinks or coffee to refresh yourself.

Before leaving the service area, everyone must spray masks and whole body clothes with disinfectant or medical alcohol before getting on the bus. 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, take off the mask or open the window for ventilation after driving out of the service area completely.

When you arrive at the checkpoint and need to take your temperature, most inspectors will use temperature measuring gun, and the inspection time is very short. However, it still causes traffic jams during rush hours. When queuing in traffic jams, everyone needs to wear masks and try to avoid opening windows. 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 the sensitive area of the elevator. In addition, after entering the residence, the mask, whole body clothes and hands should be disinfected. I believe everyone closed the doors and windows when they went 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 them at home for two weeks if necessary.

During the isolation period, you should measure your body 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 the self-driving return guarantee experience. At this time, I am isolated at home, hoping to bring help to friends who have 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.