Carpool Safety Tips from Allentown Toyota

Oct 2, 2014

Many people carpool to work and school. Carpooling saves money on gas and reduces emissions. When it is your turn to play carpool captain, make sure you are prepared for the task. Carpooling may not sound difficult, but the driver has many responsibilities. Allentown Toyota has carpool safety tips.

Tips for a Safe Carpool Commute

If you are carpooling with children or coworkers, keep these safety tips in mind:

1.      Review car insurance limits
Talk to your insurance agent about your car insurance limits and increased exposure when driving with other passengers in the vehicle.
2.      Avoid distractions
Avoid cell phone use, distracting conversations, playing with the radio and other distractions that take your eyes and focus off the road,
3.      Everyone must wear a seatbelt
Do not transport more people than your vehicle can safely accommodate. Everyone must be in a seatbelt, and children under the age of 13 must remain in the back seat.
4.      Pull over if crowd gets rowdy
If the children get too rowdy and loud, pull over and wait for the passengers to calm down.
5.      Keep checking for seatbelts
After each stop, check to make sure everyone is still buckled up,
6.      Curbside drop-off
If you are traveling with kids, arrange your stops so that you are picking up and dropping off curbside.
7.      No not allow others to substitute
If you are the designated carpool driver, do not send a substitute in your place, especially a teen driver. If you plan to send a replacement, call your carpool passengers first.
8.      Do not drive impaired
If you have consumed alcohol, prescriptions drugs or recreational substances, do not get behind the wheel. You are responsible for the lives of everyone in the vehicle.