THE Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has approved the anti-Covid motorcycle passenger shield of motorcycle taxi-hailing service Angkas on Monday, July 13, 2020.
According to George Royeca, chief transport advocate of Angkas, they look forward to collaborating with the government in keeping the public safe from Covid-19 while providing much-needed transportation.
In a statement, Royeca said: “We thank Secretary Lorenzana, Secretary Año, Secretary Galvez, Secretary Dizon, the IATF and the NTF for the swift action and decisiveness on public transport safety. The responsiveness that you have shown especially during this pandemic is a great service to the Filipino people. This is the culmination of many long weeks of testing and improving dozens of prototypes.”
Angkas highlighted several features of the anti-Covid motorcycle passenger shield that will help lessen viral transmission.
Angkas said that the shield’s size and concave profile minimize likelihood of transmission (mainly from passenger to driver).
“The plastic materials used on the shield also make disinfection very easy,” Angkas said.
The shield is also designed for road safety as it is rigid at low forces (everyday use as a virus barrier when riding), and flexible upon impact (in the event of an accident).
The thin durable plastic sheet can survive massive forces without shattering and sharding, and the dulled, polished edges significantly minimize risk of cutting or slicing in the event of a crash.
The shield’s aerodynamic is in its back-swept flaps that improve airflow for minimized drag and barrier deformation at speed.
It also has high passenger visibility through its thin but rigid barriers that allow almost unobstructed passenger visibility.
It is lightweight with the shield weighing only one kilogram for prolonged usage.
It is easy to put on and remove repeatedly for regular disinfection.
The lower third of the shield is tapered to accommodate passenger’s legs, making it an efficient design for passengers.
Passenger grips are located at the base of the spine to minimize accidental counter-steering (versus if located near the arms or shoulders) and allow passengers to rest their arms on their thighs while holding on.
Finally, the shield is adaptable and scalable with its back-pack style design that makes it easy to use across motorcycle types.
Its materials and design make it easy to produce at low cost by many manufacturers to make it accessible to most Filipinos. (JOB)