Jesus’ principle that we should be doing to others as we would like them to do to us applies to the transportation of church and community in a manner which attempts to be generous, courteous, caring and safe.  The following is an attempt to set a policy for what is expected from function organisers, drivers and passengers. 

Leaders are expected to be familiarised with this document in the aim of using their organisational and leadership skills to plan and implement church functions with wisdom.   

Volunteers and staff willing to drive passengers on behalf of the church shall be familiarised with the contents of this document. From the driver’s perspective we see this as a safety induction document for their roles involving driving.  Some people who may be willing to drive will not be appropriate to serve the church in this capacity because of their poor driving record. Such a person should self-identify to their leader if asked to serve in a driving role.  

It is expected that a driver will quickly inform their immediate leader, SafeChurch Team or SCCP of any driving offences, accidents or refusal of insurance etc, which may currently render them as unsuitable to drive vehicles on behalf of the church.  Drivers will also be precluded from being a “New Vine Driver” if their attitude, behaviour or a particular incident is deemed serious by the Safety Team or SCCP and to be inappropriate according to these guidelines. 

The SafeChurch Team will monitor and manage issues relating to transport in a deliberate attempt to establish a culture within the church which values good driving sense, and an effort to bring accountability to a wide variety of diverse ministries. 

Finally, the expectations upon passengers outlined in this document will be guidelines which (we will request) leaders of functions to verbally re-affirm at events where people are being transported by the church. This is done with the desire that we reinforce a culture where passengers respect the vehicles and are grateful for the people driving them. 

Overview of main points 

1. Wisdom in organisational leadership 

 Key issues facing the leader include: 

• establish clear boundaries as to where and when New Vine’s duty of care extends 

• safe loading and unloading of passengers 

• creating a safe place for children within the vehicle (ie interactions) 

• precautions taken to prevent passengers from getting lost at stops 

• brief drivers of expectations if problem occurs 

• precluding people where required 

• deal with navigational issues 

• report incidents 

2. Sensible, skilful driving: 

 Key issues facing the driver: 

• attempting to obey rules of the land 

• driving conservatively as an abiding principle 

• ensuring the vehicle is in safe condition (eg: brakes, lights, belts, tyres etc) 

• utilising a navigator if necessary 

• to not place themselves in ‘at risk’ behaviour with children 

• reporting incidents 

3. Vigilant oversight 

Key issues facing the SafeChurch Team: 

• monitor driver suitability 

• investigate incidents 

• take action to correct behaviour 

4. Respectful riders 

Key issues facing the passenger 

• allow the driver to drive 

• take care of the vehicle 

• be considerate of others in the vehicle 

• be generous with praise and costs (where appropriate) 

Driving Policy Details 

1. Wise Leading 

• Clear boundaries: many times the church operates in attitude somewhat like a family and the boundaries of what is an official function and what are friends doing ‘friend stuff’ can be blurry.  It is important to have boundaries around our activities as a church.  This is particularly important where we have a duty of care over children or vulnerable people.  As a general principle, it is best if an activity has a clear beginning and end... both in time and location... and that these boundaries are obvious.  When transporting children and young people, it should be obvious to the parent/ guardian that their child will be transported as part of the activity.  When a parent leaves their child in your care (signing-in etc), then this can be reasonably taken as tacit recognition and permission for their transportation.  [However in general registration of children parents should be given the opportunity to give a blanket prohibition on the church transporting their children and this should be honoured and adhered to]
  
  An example of blurry boundaries may be where a parent asks a friend (who is also a leader) to pick-up a child and take them to the activity (church function). The leader takes them to the activity (as Driver) before dropping others back at church (end of function) and drops child home (as friend).  This scenario would be blurred further by not returning to church but children being dropped home (by Drivers), leading to the question of when did the event finish? Such a private arrangement for transporting a child should be initiated through relationship (in knowledge of the parents) and not be essentially organisational in nature.
  
  Note- importantly it would be considered inappropriate for the driver to be alone with the child in the car as part of the church activity… but an exception to this be if it is clearly a private matter [see app 4 for more thorough discussion and definition of corporate activities]. 

• Child safety:  It is not appropriate for a leader or driver to be left alone with a child.  Generally speaking, it is best to have a leader and driver in each vehicle so that two adults are with a group of children or an individual. If unforeseen circumstances arise though, a female driver alone is preferable.  [The reason for this is that such an overwhelming majority of child abuse allegations (and actual abuse) occur with adult men by themselves with a child.  So firstly it puts children in potential danger with drivers alone (particularly male) and it puts driver under the danger of a false accusation when alone.  Of course the cost of actual abuse and alleged abuse are both more than we want to imagine.  These boundaries are a great investment]. Another precaution in those unforeseen circumstances would be for a lone leader to keep an open mobile phone call to another leader as they completed a transported leg alone with a child or children, and to note this in an incident report. 

• Losing a passenger:  This is probably a precaution most obvious for bus drivers.  If a journey has a stop, make sure the driver has enough information to not easily “lose” a passenger.
  
  The drivers should be briefed in advance on protocol if something like this happens.  An obvious precaution is having some people who can be phoned.  Be alert to special circumstances with particular passengers (medical etc) and make drivers suitably aware.  Setting clear instruction to children in regard to “staying with the group” and “stranger danger” is wise to better protect from potential difficulties. 

• Passenger History:  Because of their previous behavioural incidents or medical conditions there may be some people who should not be allowed to be transported by a church staff or volunteers.  The driver cannot make this call... the leader must step in sometimes and say “no”. 
  
  Example: if a child has mucked up badly and dangerously on previous trip then it’s not fair, safe or appropriate to put group/ driver through it... just say “no” or perhaps “you can come, but you will need to get your parents to take you” might achieve the same thing (and a behavioural modification next time) 

• Provide maps/ briefing/ navigators as required:  Don’t put your drivers in a place where they are not only trying to drive with a bunch of kids but also trying to find their way... it just adds to the stress and the danger.  

• Feedback:  It is vitally important that the SafeChurch Team receives any feedback from parent/ passenger/ leader/etc with concerns or incidents.  Leaders will often be the ones who hear these.  It is important that any concerns with a driver are appropriately dealt with, because it is a pretty poor effort if concerns were raised before anything serious happens but then nothing is done and then something happens.  [Any concerns should be either reported using the B6.5.1: incident report form or the D7.1: SafeChurch Concerns Form]  

2. The driver 

• Experience. Many problems simply happen because of lack of experience. For this reason in normal circumstances we would not allow drivers on P plates to act as drivers on behalf of New Vine. In unusual circumstances a green P driver would be considered suitable, but with keen understanding of laws relating to speeds, times and numbers of passengers allowed. 

• Obeying the rules.  This is pretty obvious, and drivers must choose to do this not while sitting here reading this... but in difficult, frustrating times behind the wheel, possibly with “unhelpful advice” coming from behind.  By obeying the rules, passengers are kept safer and credibility and confidence maintained.  Wilful disregard of the laws of the land is not acceptable in New Vine drivers. We draw particular attention here to the importance of rules for the driver relating to the following (because of their well-known implication in so many fatalities and serious accidents) : 

• Alcohol consumption 

• Mobile phone usage 

• speed 

• Driving conservatively.  This is an important principle.  The driver has been given the care of a bunch of passengers.  Keeping their mind on the road, taking it carefully and getting home safely is the assumed result... so… in as much as it rests upon you… make it so !!!   Do all you can to get those passengers to their destinations safely.  The drive to the activity is not meant to be an adrenaline ride for the passengers. Conservative driving requires that a driver be familiar with the controls of the particular vehicle they are driving (for example if hired or borrowed it should be driven for a while before passengers taken on-board). We also draw attention to the horrible statistical implications of driving when experiencing certain health conditions and ask drivers to preclude themselves from driving when not in a good physical state such as 

• when sick  

• with flu-like symptoms  

• fatigued 

• Safe loading: the loading and unloading of vehicles is statistically one of the significant dangers in transportation. Where passengers are getting in and out there are often other moving vehicles and pedestrians.  Overall safety should be significantly improved if you take care with this.  Obvious preferences are:  

• well lit areas,  

• distant from vehicles at speed,  

• with suitable nearby road pedestrian crossing if required,  

• and enough room for passengers etc 

• Vehicle maintenance.  Don’t use a vehicle that isn’t working properly.  This doesn’t say anything good about our care of others.  Critical things such as brakes, lights, tyres, indicators etc.  If it wouldn’t pass a rego check then don’t put passengers in there with you. 

• Don’t add navigation to your driving task.  Add a navigator who can give clear instructions to you... or if unavailable then stop and work out where you’re going and then start again. 

• Alone with a child:  It is inappropriate to be by yourself with child/ren in a vehicle. See above for a more detailed discussion of this. 

• Good driving record:  Part of the necessary requirements for you to be a New Vine driver is that you have a good driving record.  Any accidents or infringements should be reported your ministry leader or SafeChurch Team, who will then work through with you any appropriate action.  It is also important that you report any incidents  that take place in your vehicle with your driving or passengers etc.  Again this will allow SafeChurch Team and leaders to respond with actions which will ensure future safety and credibility etc.   (use form B.5.1 or D7.1 as appropriate for reporting) 

3. The SafeChurch Team 

• Simple assessment:  The SafeChurch Team will rely on ministry leaders to go through this document with a New Vine driver as part of their induction for the role they are fulfilling, and assess with the prospective driver their suitability for the role, given their experience the vehicle and the trip. 

• Driving incident reports:  (ie: not matters of child safety). The records of any driving incident will be kept and any reports appropriately investigated as soon as practically possible.  The objective in this investigation is to assess what actually took place and if there should be consequences for the driver (eg further training, review of responsibilities, standing aside for a time), or consequences for future planning (should there be a change of policy, protocol, leader instructions), or does any initiative need to be taken with others (eg passengers, parents, neighbours, general congregation etc).
  
  The main thing here is that we are aiming to deal matter-of-factly with incidents and take action with drivers and/or passengers where it seems they need to be taken.  The steps of investigation and any actions taken should also be recorded by the SafeChurch Team. 
  
  Issues may be found to relate not only to the driver, but to passengers, neighbours, parents etc. These are issues that will require pastorally sensitive handling. 
  
  (for example:  a driver is seen with a carload of kids with the heads and arms out windows skylarking... then after investigating several areas may need to be addressed...first... was the driver the motivator behind the activity or did they fail to take clear action in their vehicle?... second... has the ministry leader made the expectations for passengers clear?... third...has this sort of thing happened before, and do parents need to be brought into the equation?) 

4. Respectful riders 

• Let the driver drive.  Many times being a passenger with a group is a good fun, social time with friends, whilst for the driver it is hard work concentrating (particularly in the rain, with traffic on unfamiliar streets etc and with lots of noise from the back).  Often passengers are not themselves experienced drivers and do not understand the driving pressures.  The pressure on the driver no doubt increases markedly when a group in the back begin giving loud and emphatic suggestions.  It is in everyone’s interest for the passengers to let the driver make their decisions, let the navigator navigate and respond quickly if the driver requests something that will help them drive more safely.  (eg “ sit down... I can’t see properly!”) 

• Take care of the vehicle.  This is pretty simple.  Vehicles have often been borrowed or hired etc and when they return dirty and damaged it causes lots of hassles.  It is extremely discouraging for volunteer drivers when they find the passengers have not respected their vehicle.  Clean up after yourself, don’t eat messy stuff in the vehicle, if the driver asks you not to do something, don’t.  Don’t fiddle with gadgets unless you’ve been told you can etc.. 

• Treatment of others.  While traveling can be fun together, it can also be a time of tension between passengers when people do not treat each other with respect.  Treat others as you’d like them to treat you... speak and act with dignity... you are a child of the living, loving King. 

• Generosity.  Look for opportunity to be generous to the driver.  In informal settings where drivers are volunteering their time and vehicle, it is common for people to underestimate what this really costs the driver.  Occasionally people will think to give a few dollars as a gift towards petrol... but seldom think of oil, maintenance, repairs, insurance... it does cost a volunteer driver in their vehicle much more than a bit of petrol.  Respect this and see if you can find ways to praise them and return their generosity to you.