389.4 Driver Qualification and Vehicle Safety |
| Created by: Stephanie Ferguson on 2/13/2001 |
| Category: 3 - Business Affairs; 80 - Service/Travel |
| Originator: Vice President for Finance and Administration |
| Current File: 389.4 |
| Adoption Date: 8/1/2006 |
| Reviewed for Currency: 8/1/2006 |
| Replaces File: 389.4 |
| Date of Origin: 3/10/1992 |
| Classification: |
| In Archive? No |
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 and volunteer functions. 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 or sponsored 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 license; · at least 18 years of age (or at least 21 for vans that carry up to 15 persons); · a satisfactory driving record (see section E); · completion of an on-the-road driving test for vans carrying up to 15 passengers.
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C. Guidelines 1. The Public Safety Department will obtain an annual motor vehicle record check from the appropriate Highway Department on all persons prior to their operation of a university vehicle or a university-sponsored vehicle. At the discretion of the Public Safety Director, record checks may occur semi-annually for higher risk individuals. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring department to provide a list of potential drivers to the Travel Services Coordinator 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 will not be allowed to operate university vehicles until they have regained their license and obtained a satisfactory driving record, as outlined in Section E. Authorized drivers are required to report a license revocation/suspension to the Director of Public Safety. 4. Driving privileges shall be suspended one year from the date of violation and/or at the discretion of the Public Safety Director, when violations involve Diving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol, Hit and Run, or Reckless Driving. Employees may drive vehicles (with the exception of 15 passenger vehicles) earlier if they show proof of successfully completing a state-approved driver education class and valid driver license to the Director of Public Safety. 5. Driving privileges shall be temporarily suspended when a driving record indicates traffic violations in excess of eight points (see Section E). 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 less. 6. The Public Safety Director reserves the right to suspend driving privileges when a driving record shows a pattern of moving violations or unusual circumstances which would indicate an unacceptable risk. Criteria for driving 15 passenger vans are more stringent (see Section D). 7. 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 shall be restricted from the front seat. This is the responsibility of the driver and must be enforced. 8. No vehicle should be driven more than 4 hours without a minimum 30 minute rest or use of an alternate approved driver. Trips involving daily travel in excess of 8 hours per day will have an alternate approved driver in the vehicle. 9. Alcoholic beverages and prescription drugs/medications known to impair abilities shall not be consumed within 10 hours of driving or at any time while driving. D. 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 when additional older drivers may not be available. They are not intended to be used as the primary driver. 3. All drivers of leased passenger vans must also meet any additional age requirements of the leasing company. 4. Van driving privileges will be suspended for one year if there is more than 1 moving violation within the past 2 years. 5. Van driving privileges will be suspended when violations within the past 5 years include conviction for: · License has been suspended or revoked; · Any serious violation such as Reckless Driving, Hit and Run, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol; · Speeding violation 25 mph or more above the speed limit. E. University Point System
There is an established driver point system in the State of
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