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Safety Rules for Vehicular Travel
Small Child Safety
While in route
Breakdowns, Emergencies, Illness En Route
Accident Procedure
Public Relations Concerning an Emergency
Youth Event Worksheet
St. Philip Lutheran Church, ELCA
Raleigh, North Carolina
Transportation Policy
January 2004
In order to maintain safety when transporting the children and youth
of St. Philip Lutheran Church, the following must be followed:
Safety Rules for Vehicular Travel
- [ TOP ]
- Drivers must be 21 years of age or older and have a valid driver’s
license that has not been suspended or revoked for any reason.
- Drivers must hold bodily injury liability insurance policy with
a minimum value of $100,000 for each person and $300,000 for each
accident. A valid proof of insurance certificate must be presented
to the adult leader prior to departure.
- A retreat information sheet must be filled out on all events and
left with a designated staff member or volunteer of St. Philip Lutheran
Church.
- Emergency kits provided by St. Philip must be in vehicles for
every retreat.
- One car – One emergency kit
- Two cars – One emergency kit
- Three – Five cars – Two emergency kits
- St. Philip highly recommends that drivers do not operate cell
phones while driving on youth events except to communicate with
other vehicles in the group. If you must use your cell phone
while driving, the following should apply:
- Where state laws exist to restrict or limit cell phone usage,
all drivers shall meet the requirements of those laws.
- Where no laws exist, all cell phone usage should be restricted
while driving. These restrictions include the use of hands-free
devices, auto answer, and/or voice-activated dialing.
- Calls should be brief and to the point. Extended calls
should be avoided.
- All calls should be avoided in inclement weather and heavy traffic.
- Walkie-talkies and similar devices may be used for communication
between vehicles but should follow the same rules as cell phones.
- No youth should drive themselves to any event, unless in the case
of extremely circumstances. Should there be a case of extreme
circumstance and a youth must drive themselves to an event, the
youth is subject to the following conditions:
- Six months’ driving experience as a licensed driver (time
on a learner’s permit or equivalent is not to be counted.
- No record of accidents or moving violations.
- Parental permission has been granted for the youth to drive
and communicated to the adult leader.
- The youth may not drive any other participants to, from, or
during the event.
- Drivers and passengers, regardless of age, must at all times wear
a seatbelt.
- All passengers must remain seated while the vehicle is in transit.
- Children and youth must obey the driver and other adult chaperones
in transit.
Small child safety - [ TOP ]
- All children age 12 and under should sit properly restrained in
the back seat.
- A child less than eight years of age and less than 80 pounds in
weight shall be properly secured in a weigh-appropriate child passenger
restraint system.
- Never use a lap belt across a child sitting in a booster seat.
- Never place a child in a child safety seat in the front seat of
a vehicle equipped with a passenger air bag.
- Never put the shoulder belt behind a child’s arm or back
because it eliminates the protection for the upper part of the body
and increases the risk of severe injury in a crash. The shoulder
strap should cross the collarbone, and the lap belt should fit low
and tight.
- Never use pillows, books, or towels to boost a child. They
can slide around.
- Young children and infants always should ride in age and size-appropriate
child safety seats. The safety seat should be held properly
in place by the vehicle’s seat belts, and the child should
be correctly buckled in the child safety seat. A child who
has outgrown the child safety seat should use a booster seat until
a proper fit can be obtained with a seat belt.
While in route - [ TOP ]
- Drivers are expected to use their good judgment to drive at a
safe speed with the flow of traffic.
- Regular break stops should be made, regardless of length of driving
time. Recommendations are:
- One - two hour drive time – No stop required
- Two hours or longer – Stop recommended every two hours
- During rest or tour stops, children and youth are to walk about
in groups of at least three.
- Drivers are to remain within visual distance of each other. Drivers
are not to separate from one another unless extreme circumstances
prevail.
- In larger vehicles that have a back seat that is hidden from the
drivers view (i.e. mini-vans, etc), there will be no mixing of male
and female.
- It is recommended that vehicles operate with head lights on at
all times.
Breakdowns, Emergencies, Illness En Route -
[ TOP ]
- Breakdowns are to be phoned to a designated staff member or volunteer
of the congregation. Other adults will supervise while help
is sought out. Instructions will be given from the contactee
regarding whether to wait for assistance or to seek local help,
depending on the location of the breakdown.
- Passenger illness will be treated in a prompt and caring manner
and will include, if necessary, stopping en route to rest or to
seek professional medical assistance. In the event stopping
becomes necessary, the adults will notify the designated staff member
or volunteer of the congregation and/or the parent by phone as soon
as possible.
- The Adult leader should have a copy of all medical release forms
and should keep them in an accessible location.
Accident Procedure - [ TOP ]
- Do not leave the scene before the police have arrived!
- If there are injuries:
- Remove uninjured passengers to a safe location and secure supervision
(preferably another adult)
- Assess the injured and administer first aid as appropriate
- Call 911 or send someone to do so.
- When the situation is stabilized or if there are no injuries:
- Exchange names, license numbers (driver’s and vehicle),
and insurance information with the drivers of other vehicles involved.
- Get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses
present.
- Call the designated staff member or volunteer of the congregation
and inform them of the accident.
- The staff member or volunteer will then direct you on how to
proceed based on the situation.
- Never speak of fault or blame to anyone, on or off the record.
- Be sure to get the name and badge number of any assisting police
officer.
- If an injured party is transported to an area hospital, attempt
to find out which hospital is being used.
- Only the designated staff person or volunteer of the congregation
will contact parents of injured passengers – except in the
event that a hospital insists on contacting the parents regarding
treatment of their child.
Public Relations Concerning an Emergency -
[ TOP ]
- Cooperate fully with the authorities.
- Know the essential facts, i.e., nature of events, results. Stick
to the facts! Do not offer opinions.
- Do not volunteer information to spectators, youth, or strangers.
- If asked about insurance coverage, exchange your personal insurance
coverage.
- In dealing with the news media/public, maintain an attitude of
cooperation, but do not give any information.
- Never give any information off the record.
- Contact a St. Philip pastor or youth director as soon as possible
and update them on the situation.
Youth Event Worksheet - [ TOP ]
Date(s) of Event
Event Name
Location of Event
Emergency Phone Number
Adult Leadership
Name Address
Cell Phone
*Drivers License # *License
Plate #
*Make/Model of Vehicle/Year
Insurance Policy # and Carrier
Name Address
Cell Phone
*Drivers License # *License
Plate #
*Make/Model of Vehicle/Year
Insurance Policy # and Carrier
Name Address
Cell Phone
*Drivers License # *License
Plate #
*Make/Model of Vehicle/Year
Insurance Policy # and Carrier
Name Address
Cell Phone
*Drivers License # *License
Plate #
*Make/Model of Vehicle/Year
Insurance Policy # and Carrier
*If
driving vehicle either personally owned or rented.
Mode of Transportation
o
Car o
Van o
15-passenger Van o
Bus
o Other
Group Participants List
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