If you’ve been on the road lately and noticed other drivers sporting face cover, you might’ve wondered: Should I be wearing face cover while driving my car? If you’re traveling alone, then no. You don’t need to wear a face cover in the car if no one else is in there with you. However, there are a few scenarios in which wearing a mask in the car does make sense to help protect others during the coronavirus pandemic.
With someone you do not live with
One would be if you’re carpooling with someone who doesn’t live with you. You should wear face cover since you can’t keep a safe physical distance from someone in that case. You should also wear one if you’re rolling down your window to interact with someone at a drive-thru or curbside pickup location.
When you sick
Another case where you need to wear a face mask is when you are sick and you have other people in the car with you. Even if it’s not the coronavirus, it would still be a good idea to wear a face cover. So other people won’t contract whatever germ you have in your system.
Delivery worker
If you’re a delivery worker or are making several stops during one trip, it’s reasonable to keep your face cover on in the car between stops. That would prevent you from repeatedly touching your mask, which could have germs on it, by taking it off and putting it back on each time you get out of the car.
Besides, you can feel anxious about being out in public right now, and keeping a mask on comforts you. If you’re traveling a short distance between stops and don’t want to take the face cover off only to have to put it back on again immediately.
Since it’s generally a good idea to avoid touching your face cover. It makes sense to just leave it on for a while instead of taking it on and off frequently. But if you do drive with it, understand that wearing a mask can reduce your field of vision. Always weigh the benefits of wearing a mask in your car against the potential risks involved.
Basically, when it comes to mask-wearing, think of your car as an extension of your home: Would you wear a face mask in your living room? But most of the time you would not wear a face cover inside your house, and you can use the same thinking to decide if you should don a mask in the car.
