389.4 Driver Qualification and Vehicle Safety

389.4 Driver Qualification and Vehicle Safety

A. Background

The university provides a number of pool vehicles, permanently assigned vehicles, and rental vehicles to be used by Furman employees and students while traveling on university business. The university is aware of the responsibility to assure these vehicles are used safely.

B. Policy

All drivers (e.g., students, faculty, staff) of university-owned vehicles (e.g. rental vehicles paid for by the university) must meet certain criteria for qualifying to use these vehicles. Minimum qualifications include:

• valid driver's license;
• at least 18 years of age (or 21 for vans able to carry up to 15 persons);
• a satisfactory driving record (see below);
• completion of an on-the-road driving test for vans carrying up to 15 passengers.

C. Guidelines

1. The Public Safety Department will obtain an annual motor vehicle record check from the South Carolina Highway Department on all persons prior to their operation of a university vehicle or a university-sponsored vehicle. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring department to provide a list of potential drivers to the Director of Public Safety annually, or as needed.

2. A "Disclosure and Consent" form shall be completed by all employees prior to the Public Safety request for a motor vehicle record check. Any information obtained will be used only for determination of qualification to operate university-owned or sponsored vehicles. The "Disclosure and Consent" form will be distributed by the university Travel Services Coordinator.

3. Persons whose licenses are revoked or suspended for whatever reason will not be allowed to operate university vehicles until they have regained their license and obtained a satisfactory driving record. Authorized drivers are required to report a license revocation/suspension to the Director of Public Safety.

4. Driving privileges shall be permanently suspended whenever violations include operating a vehicle after the registration has been suspended or revoked, driving after a driver's license has been suspended, or hit and run.

5. Driving privileges shall be suspended for three years whenever violations involve driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, or reckless driving. Employees may drive vehicles (with the exception of 15 passenger vehicles) after one year if they show proof of passing a State-approved driver education class and a valid drivers license to the Director of Public Safety.

6. Driving privileges shall be temporarily suspended whenever a driving record indicates traffic violations in excess of eight points. Driving privileges may be restored after the successful completion of a State-approved driver education class resulting in the reduction of traffic points to eight or below. When driving any university owned or sponsored vehicle, the driver and ALL passengers must wear seat belts or the age-appropriate restraint device. Children under three years old shall be in a child seat and children under eight years old shall be restricted from the front seat. This is the responsibility of the driver and must be enforced.

7. No vehicles should be driven more than 4 hours without either a minimum 30-minute rest or use of an alternate approved driver. Trips involving daily travel in excess of 8 hours per day shall have an alternate approved driver in the vehicle.

8. Alcoholic beverages and drugs known to impair abilities shall not be consumed within 10 hours of driving or at any time while driving.

Passenger Vans Only (15 seat occupancy)

1. Passenger vans shall be driven only by persons at least 21 years of age (see exception below) and meeting all criteria of a satisfactory driving record. All drivers of university owned or leased vans must be certified by the issuance of a special permit by the University Safety Office at Facilities Services.

2. Secondary drivers of university passenger vans may be under 21 years of age if they are under constant supervision of a primary driver who is a university faculty or staff member. Secondary drivers shall meet all other requirements of a primary driver. Secondary drivers are intended to be used only to relieve primary drivers during long trips and are not intended to be used as the primary driver.

3. All drivers of leased passenger vans must meet the age requirements of the leasing company.

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