ChurchSafety

Transporting people is a big responsibility—one every church needs to take seriously.  By following just a few simple transportation tips, you can be in the driver's seat when it comes to keeping your church safe on the road.

• Define the purpose of the program. Developing a written description of the transportation program's services ahead of time will help you make a list of all the factors you need to consider.
  
  
• Consider all options.  Don't assume that you must buy a vehicle to start a transportation program.  Ask questions about renting, leasing and chartering vehicles before you make any purchase decisions.
  
  
• Keep it covered. Make sure you have both the proper licensing for drivers and insurance coverage for your specific transportation services.
  
  
• Compare the risks and benefits. Consider factors such as safety, economy, and increasing participation rate when you decide whether a bus or a van will best suit your program's services.
  
  

• Buckle up. While advice to buckle up is not new, it's always worth repeating. Insist that all passengers wear seat belts.  Even in situations with a higher risk of rollover, seat belts are very effective in saving lives.
  
  
• Train your drivers. Require that drivers complete formal training on a regular basis.   Training should include how to perform vehicle inspections and what to do in poor driving conditions.
  
  
• Go Retro. Consider retrofitting your church van.  There are steps you can take to make your church van less likely to roll over.
  
  
• Understand the legal issues.   Churches that continue to use 15-passenger vans assume an increased risk unless they take specific steps to address defined safety issues.
  
  
• Know federal requirements.  Additional safety requirements apply when a vehicle that can accommodate more than 15 passengers is driven across state boundaries.
  
  

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