Firefly to Offer Free In-Car Protective Film to Rideshare Drivers to Reduce COVID-19 Risk

The program will start in San Francisco to help provide drivers additional protection when shelter-in-place orders lift

Firefly today announced that it will be offering an in-car plastic protective sheet-film to its rideshare driver-partners at no cost to help reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19. The initiative will be rolled out to drivers on the Firefly platform beginning with San Francisco. 

As COVID-19 has spread, the rideshare economy has taken a significant hit. Rideshare drivers depend on rides for their livelihood, but proximity to passengers puts them at higher risk of infection, making access to protective equipment all the more important. 

Firefly works directly with independent rideshare drivers, installing its proprietary displays atop their vehicles and serving geo-targeted, programmable out-of-home advertising on the screens. Firefly’s smart screens concurrently boost income for driver-partners in cities across the country, who can achieve up to an additional 15 percent more per month in supplemental income.

With this initiative, Firefly seeks to make available additional protection to its driver-partners as shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders are relaxed in their cities. The temporary plastic protective film, installed inside the vehicle between the front and rear seats, can help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission for both driver and passenger. 

“Protective equipment for drivers can meaningfully reduce the current risk of transmission when transporting passengers,” explained Kaan Gunay, CEO and co-founder of Firefly. “This is a small step we hope can help our driver-partners stay safe when they are on the road.”

Firefly is also using its street-level digital media network to support public health. As part of its City Partners Program, the company has been running pro bono coronavirus safety messaging on its platform in all cities where it operates. This includes participating in the out-of-home advertising industry’s efforts with federal agencies to amplify the Ad Council’s COVID-19 public awareness campaign.

Recognized for its work with such brands as Puma, Brex, and HotelTonight, and named a winner of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2019, Firefly powers the next generation of advertising technology inspired by the value of community-centric effort.