EVERYBODY INTO THE CARPOOL

BY KEITH BURTON

Carpooling these days is more than just catching a ride to work or to school. It’s become the only way many busy families can keep up with all the activities in which their children participate.

You parents are only too familiar with the scene. Ballet, baseball, soccer games, church, scout meetings, the mall—all places you take your children. At first, all this driving is kind of fun, because you are a part of the kids’ lives. Then one day you realize you no longer have time to do anything but drive. That’s about the time you discover carpooling. It is also a big reason why you probably drive an SUV.

Deciding to participate in a carpool entails a great deal of responsibility. If you plan to drive, you want to make sure your vehicle is up to the task. This means, first of all, that it’s in good condition and properly maintained.

You should also be certain your vehicle has enough safety belts for every passenger and make sure they are used—and used correctly. Be particularly sure that shoulder belts are properly adjusted for each child. If the kids have backpacks or equipment bags, they need to be securely stowed so they won’t fly around the cabin in the event of a sudden stop.

When you are transporting kids from other families, you need to have every child’s home phone number with you in case of emergency. A cellular phone could come in handy in that case, but don’t use it while driving.

Liability insurance is another important consideration. Check with your insurance agent, and even your family attorney, before carpooling. You need to be sure your insurance is sufficient to handle any claims in the event of an accident. If your vehicle is registered for commercial use, as for a family business, make sure it’s covered for carpool use as well.

It’s wise to get parents to sign carpool permissions for their children for insurance and liability purposes. Some carpools devise agreements that limit each parent’s liability in case of an accident. While such agreements can reduce claims in some cases, they probably are no guarantee of protection against all claims. The American Automobile Association recommends that you increase your liability insurance to its maximum level if you plan to use your vehicle to carpool.

CARPOOLING SAFETY

•           Never allow a child under age 13 or less than 5 feet tall to ride in a front-passenger seat, particularly if the vehicle is equipped with a passenger-side frontal air bag.

•           Never use a rear-facing child safety seat in a front seat with a passenger-side frontal air bag.

•           Read the owner’s manual for the safety information  it contains about your specific vehicle.

•           Be sure kids enter and exit on the curb side of the vehicle.

•           Create a password system to guard against abductors should a substitute driver be required.

•           Don’t allow kids to hang their arms, legs, or heads outside the windows.

•           Ensure that child safety seats are firmly attached by marking or indicating the safety-seat size on the car’s seatbelts with tape or a marker.

•           Don't accept an extra child into the carpool if you don't have enough seatbelts.

•           Lock all doors before getting on the road.

•           Make sure all occupants are buckled correctly into their seats.

•           Keep backpacks stowed under the seat or in the trunk.

•           Set an example by strictly obeying traffic laws and signs.