Ford has come up with a range of protective shields that can be quickly and easily fitted to the carmaker’s commercial vehicles, like the Transit and Tourneo.

The objective is for these shields to help operators meet social distancing requirements, but also to deliver additional peace of mind for occupants.

The shields were designed for operations such as school buses, patient transfers, transport and taxi services, and can be ordered through Ford’s European dealers, as well as via the Ford Online Shop in select markets.

Read: Ford Transit And Tourneo Vans Get SUV-ified With New Trail And Active Models In Europe

“Commercial vehicle operators have faced unprecedented challenges in 2020 and are adapting to new norms as they continue to provide their vital services to our communities and economy,” said Ford’s European commercial vehicle aftersales director, Owen Gregory.

“Our new protection shields provide additional support to our customers as they continue to operate in challenging circumstances, offering drivers and passengers peace of mind as they work and travel.”

The shields are made from transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, featuring integrated straps for simple installation. Ford says that these shields do not restrict passenger comfort, interior space or the operation of the heating and ventilation systems. In total there are four separate configurations, splitting cabins from front to rear and from left to right.

Also, the mounting points and strap positions were carefully set up so that they enable the normal deployment of side and curtain airbags in the event of an accident.

Ford will eventually fit these shields to the Transit / Tourneo Connect variants too, with the Transit Courier to follow later this year.