Your safety

Just like joining a new club, looking for a flat mate or interviewing a job applicant; carpooling involves meeting people and making decisions. While the vast majority of internet users looking to carpool to work are well meaning law abiding citizens, there is a very small minority of people you may come in contact with through the internet or in everyday life that may not be. Our advice is to always use common sense, as you would in any other situation. Below are a few safety tips we suggest you consider.

State your preferences when you register

If you prefer to carpool only with someone from your workplace or who is the same sex as you, select these options as you register and on the page where you see your potential matches.

Protect your privacy

Remember personal addresses are never displayed to other users, only the nearby street intersection you enter on the registration form. Enter an intersection you are comfortable people seeing; this could be the local shops or somewhere else you wish to start your journey. You may also prefer to enter your general work number rather than a direct dial as a contact phone number. Your email addresses is not displayed on the website, only to people you send emails to. Using your work email addresses is a good way to confirm you work for the employer you’re listed under.

Meet face to face before carpooling

We recommend always meeting in a public place before starting to carpool. Take the time to talk about any questions you have and get to know each other. You are free to say you’d prefer not to carpool at anytime.

Carpool in a group and leave your details with a friend

It’s more fun to carpool with three or more people and can help you feel more comfortable too. You can also leave the contact details of your carpool group and trip details with a friend.
 

General carpooling tips

Payment - Agree in advance

Depending on your carpool, if there is one permanent vehicle and one driver it is reasonable to establish a fare based on fuel, maintenance and parking costs. Agree on when fares will be collected and stick to it. If your carpool members agree to take turns driving and use more than just one vehicle, then money may not need to change hands.

Schedule and pick-up - Don’t be late

Nothing can stop a carpool faster than chronically late riders. Establish a time schedule and pick-up points. Establish rules for latecomers and decide how long to wait (5 minutes is usual).

Stops and detours – No stops on the way

Wherever possible avoid stops and detours on the way to work. If you need to drop off children, just talk with your other carpoolers about this.If you need your car to get to an appointment, try to book these on the days you're driving.

Contacts – Make sure you know how to reach your carpool

Ensure everyone has a copy of the important contact numbers of each member of your carpool. Agree in advance what will happen in the event of illness or mechanical problems – it is best to expect the unexpected. If something unexpected happens, try to give as much advance notice as possible to allow the other carpool members to make arrangements.

Vehicle – Maintenance and ownership

A well maintained vehicle will ensure a safe, reliable and comfortable ride for all passengers. A poorly maintained car can consume substantially more fuel than one that is properly maintained. Think about your possible savings and the environment.

If your car belongs to your company, make sure your employer knows about your carpooling plans before you start. The driver policy or conditions may vary depending on your company or business. Discuss which conditions apply to the use of your car, particularly when your company pays part of your petrol bill.

Insurance – Be on the safe side

To adequately protect yourself and your vehicle, a good insurance policy is recommended. 

Carpool etiquette

Think about the things that will make the ride enjoyable for everyone. For example; strong perfume, eating in the car and constant talking on a mobile phone may irritate some people.