#letuswork We Did It – Driving Schools Are Allowed to Operate, Here Are the Rules

After we published a text highlighting the inconsistencies in the easing of measures, we received numerous responses from readers. Most agree that the easing of measures, let’s put it that way, is selective and does not apply equally to all. One reader tells us that as the situation with the coronavirus calms down, almost all and much riskier activities for infection are opening up, while driving schools are prohibited from operating until further notice.

– Masses are being held, all service activities are opening up, taxis are operating normally, and driving schools that can conduct the theoretical part online, while the practical part is one-on-one in the car, are closed and brought to the brink of existence – says the reader. Another reader adds that he feels sorry for the instructors and candidates.

– Imagine, each driving school has a maximum of 20 candidates, while taxi transport and public transport are operating. Candidates are not even allowed online lectures. The headquarters emphasizes that lectures are listened to online? A lie! The headquarters does not even mention driving schools at the conferences, and for any detailed information, their answer is, “we are considering it.” I believe that the decision for further closure is illogical and unjust – he concludes.

However, on the other hand, some do not agree with this opinion. One reader believes that the reader from Lider is obviously the owner of a driving school that only seeks profit, not the protection of its workers and clients who go to driving school.

He explains his stance by stating that the taxi driver sits in front of the vehicle, while the passenger is in the back seat, while the instructor and his student sit next to each other in the front of the vehicle at a distance of 20 centimeters! Furthermore, the taxi driver has the option to install a plexiglass partition between the front and back seats – they are available on the market and some taxis have installed them, and in this way, the taxi driver and passenger are completely protected as they are not only at least one meter apart but also physically separated by a partition. He emphasizes that this model in the driving school vehicle is impossible to implement. He claims that comparing driving schools with taxi drivers is misguided and such an argument does not hold.

However, we ask the question – if our comparison is wrong, fine – but what about hairdressers, masseurs, and similar activities where physical contact between two people is very much present?

Still, on Thursday, the Croatian Institute of Public Health published Recommendations for the Operation of Driving Schools. Coincidentally or not, the HZJZ and the Headquarters made the decision a few days after Lider publicly called for resolving this issue (I wouldn’t go that far, but if someone in the Headquarters read the text and said ‘oh dear, we messed up, let’s correct this mistake, then our role as media in this case is fulfilled).

By the way, Minister Davor Božinović reported on Thursday that the operation of driving schools will be allowed, while the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) will publish recommendations for their operation during Thursday. He also added that the decision on quarantine and home isolation for international transport drivers is also revoked. And HZJZ did that. The recommendations state (we quote in full):

Conditions for premises and maintenance of the theoretical part

Maintain hygiene in the premises. The classroom, reception office, and sanitary facilities must be cleaned, ventilated, and, if possible, disinfected before lectures are held. It is necessary to ensure a sufficient amount of disposable materials for hand wiping, detergents, and cleaning agents. For each room, it is necessary to provide a waste bin with a suitable lid. Instructions for cleaning and disinfection are available at the following links:

Without patients with COVID-19

Persons suspected or infected with COVID-19

Install a dispenser with disinfectant. For all employees and candidates, before or immediately after entering the premises for lectures, it is essential to place information about hygiene procedures in a visible place and ensure the availability of a hand disinfectant dispenser with disinfectant (alcohol-based with a concentration of no less than 70%).

Maintain physical distancing measures. Organize lectures so that when entering classrooms, a distance of 1.5 m between participants is respected. Seating in classrooms should be arranged so that there is also a distance of 1.5 m between candidates and define the maximum number of candidates that can simultaneously stay in the classroom. Advise candidates upon registration to respect physical distancing measures upon arrival and in the time before entering the building. Keep attendance records that must minimally contain data on name, surname, exact residential address, and phone number. Administrative staff must also wear masks, and it is recommended to install washable partitions in places where communication with clients (potential candidates) takes place, and contactless card payment is recommended.

Adjust the number of candidates in the group. When registering candidates, ensure that the number of candidates does not exceed the maximum number of seats in the classroom that meets physical distancing measures.

First aid. The practical part of the first aid lecture for candidates is conducted in such a way that participants disinfect their hands before and after handling materials and models for education. Exercises for providing artificial respiration are not recommended and it is advised to temporarily postpone them. For wrapping and immobilization exercises, working on models is also recommended.

Do not consume food in the classroom. It is recommended not to consume food in classrooms. Advise candidates upon registration to bring their own disposable water bottle that they can adequately dispose of in waste bins after consumption.

Wearing face masks is recommended. In addition to surgical masks, cloth masks and other coverings that cover the mouth and nose can be used. Instructions on the proper use of masks are available HERE.

Candidates, lecturers, and instructors with symptoms that could indicate COVID-19 do not attend or conduct practical or theoretical classes. Persons with any symptoms of acute respiratory infection (runny nose, sneezing, cough, elevated body temperature, etc.) are advised to stay home and report to their family doctor. Employees must have a clarified diagnosis before returning to work. It is recommended that candidates, lecturers, and instructors, as well as other employees of the driving school, measure their body temperature at home every morning. If the body temperature is higher than 37.2°C, if the person feels ill, or has any signs of illness (referring to all symptoms and signs of illness, not just respiratory diseases), they should report to their superior, i.e., to the driving school and not come to work/class until they have contacted their family doctor by phone.

After the lecture, clean the classroom and sanitary facilities. After the lecture, the rooms must be cleaned (the floor is washed with regular washing detergent, and surfaces that have been touched, such as doorknobs, tables, etc., are washed and then disinfected). The rooms must be well ventilated (windows should be kept wide open for at least 30 minutes).

Measures during the practical part – driving

Maintain hygiene in the immediate working area. Between driving lessons for individual candidates, wipe all surfaces in the immediate vicinity of the driver’s and passenger’s seats with a surface disinfectant or disinfectant wipes, especially surfaces that are frequently touched by hands.

Ensure sufficient quantities of disposable materials and means in the car. Ensure that there are always enough paper tissues, disinfectant wipes for cleaning surfaces, and disinfectant, materials, and equipment for cleaning and disinfection in the vehicle. Cleaning and disinfection are carried out according to the instructions available on the HZJZ website.

Before entering the vehicle, disinfect hands. During the driving lesson, pay special attention to hygiene. Refrain from sneezing, do not touch the face with hands, do not consume food.

During the driving lesson, maintain adequate ventilation. The vehicle’s ventilation should be in non-recirculation mode to promote air changes that reduce the concentration of potentially infectious particles.

Wearing masks is recommended. The recommendation for wearing face masks applies to the candidate (if it does not bother them while driving) and the instructor. During the exam, the examiner must wear a face mask.

Regularly ventilate the vehicle. Between driving lessons, ventilate the vehicle for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Do not stay in the car longer than necessary. After the driving lesson, it is recommended that candidates exit the vehicle. Any administrative work for the instructor is recommended to be done before the driving lesson. Avoid sharing items between candidates and instructors, such as pens during record-keeping and similar.

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