The Smooth Commute: Forming A Well-Oiled Carpool

With the recent elevated prices for gasoline, sharing rides to work is an increasingly popular way to save money on fuel. If you have decided you'd like to begin carpooling or hop into an existing one, here are a few rules of thumb to keep your group free of conflict and running smoothly:

1. Determine who will be driving, and when.

Will one person be doing all the driving, or will carpool members take turns? If people will be driving by turns, determine when each will drive. Common arrangements are to alternate by days or by weeks.

2. Agree upon an amount, method, and time of payment.

If members alternate as drivers, an exchange of funds may not be necessary; drivers can be responsible for fueling their own vehicles.

For members who will only be passengers, establish a reasonable sum for fuel, as well as how and when payments are to be made. Be timely with payments—don't make other members ask for your contribution. Also, if you’ll be consistently riding in someone else's car, it never hurts to offer the driver a little extra for wear and tear on the vehicle.

3. Establish a time and place for meeting.

The driver can pick up passengers at their homes, or at any convenient location. Whether you’re a driver or a passenger, do your best to be on time. When you’re running late, let at least one of the other members know. Remember that your schedule affects everyone else's, and when you're late, they're likely to be, as well.

4. Keep the lines of communication open.

Each member should have contact information for all the other members. Inform other members of any changes in your plans as soon as you become aware of them. If you’re going to be later than usual or won’t need a ride on a particular day, they’ll need to know as soon as possible in order plan accordingly.

5. Be respectful of other members' vehicles.

When riding in another person's vehicle, be respectful of his or her wishes about things like eating, drinking, and smoking. If you spill something, clean it up. If you damage the vehicle—for example, if you dent the door by hitting it on a curb—offer to have it repaired.

6. Drive responsibly.

When you’re driving, be considerate of your passengers. Drive smoothly and at a moderate speed, keeping their safety and comfort in mind. If you typically speed up to stop signs and brake at the last possible instant—don't. Passengers who are white-knuckled when they leave your vehicle aren’t likely to stay carpool members for long.

7. Be courteous to other members during the ride.

This might seem to be a statement of the obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget—especially once the members have gotten to know one another well. This includes small things like not rolling down your window after someone has complained of being cold, or keeping your cell phone conversations quiet and brief. Issues like these may seem very minor, but ignoring them can make even a short drive unpleasant for others.

Print out this article, distribute it among prospective members, and use it to form the ground rules for a well-oiled group. If all participants keep these suggestions in mind, it will go a long way toward crafting the arrangement into a smooth commute—not only financially beneficial, but also more enjoyable for everyone.