Car pooling
What is car pooling?
Car pooling is when people share a journey using their own vehicles and:
- the driver picks up their passenger/s at an agreed location
- the car pool destination is usually a workplace, but could also be the shops, school, sport or a train station
- participants agree in advance on schedules, routes, and car pool days.
Arrangements vary, but could include the following:
- one person drives using their own car, with the costs divided among the passengers; or
- participants rotate driving responsibility using their own cars
Getting started
Friends
Share a lift with friends when going to a social event. This will also allow you to share the responsibility if people choose to drink.
Work Colleagues
Share a car when travelling to meetings or the airport and encourage others to do so. State this in a meeting reminder.
School
Most Brisbane families live within 5km of school. Share responsibility of driving children to school with other parents. Better still, walk or cycle with your children to school.
Team mates
Travel together to sporting events.
Internet
Search for local car pooling groups on the internet. For more information on car pooling visit:
Brisbane City Council does not endorse any particular suppliers.
3rd party insurance
Standard 3rd third party insurance covers car poolers. Council recommends that potential participants ensure vehicle registration, insurance, and drivers licences are valid before sharing the journey.
Car pooling etiquette
- agree on various pick-up points
- exchange mobile phone numbers and keep each other informed
- work out a driving roster
- work out a cost-sharing plan for fuel, parking, tolls and maintenance
- synchronize watches
- avoid personal detours for shopping and errands
- travel at recommended speeds
- develop an emergency strategy within your individual car pool, such as using a taxi or car hire
- if an emergency arises, remember to inform all members of your car pool
- keep a clean and reliable vehicle
- be cheerful and courteous
