Guidelines for Carpooling

• In your listing, give your first name for ease of identification.
• Initially, exchange preliminary communication by e-mail.
• Arrange to meet at a public place, but leave word with family or friends about your meeting.
• Take along a friend or two to the meeting.
• Do not continue with the contact, if you think you cannot trust that person.
• Do NOT carpool with people you feel you cannot trust.
• It will be good practice to exchange copies of IC and at least a contact reference.  

REMEMBER: 

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY.

DO NOT TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED, DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN.

EXERCISE CAUTION AND COMMON SENSE.

ALWAYS LET YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS KNOW ABOUT YOUR CARPOOL COMPANIONS.

Here are some guidelines for a  happy carpooling experience:

• Get Acquainted First. This is especially important if you start off as total strangers to each other. Arrange to meet at a neutral public place (preferably with friends tagging along) to determine if you wish to proceed with the carpool or not. Trust your instinct; if you don't feel comfortable, do not proceed! Preferably exchange copies of IC and lodge the document (or carpooling details) with family or friends.
  
• Driving Schedule.  If the members of the carpool are all drivers, determine the schedule for rotation, whether daily, weekly or monthly.
  
• Reimbursement Costs. If there is a sole driver, then the passengers should consider reimbursing the driver some of the costs and expenses for the carpool. A reasonable guide would be 65sen/km to 90sen/km for the overall running costs of the car (1600cc-2000cc, inclusive fuel + maintenance + wear and tear) to be shared equally by the passengers and driver. Toll and parking are separately shared. Decide whether the reimbursement is daily, weekly or monthly.
  
• Route and Pick-up Points. Determine the route and the pick-up point(s). Remember that the primary objective of the carpool is to commute to-and-from work and should not be side-tracked into shopping trips or running errands, which may affect others' schedules.
• Punctuality. Agree on the pick-up time and reasonable waiting period (for unavoidable delays). Typically should not exceed 5 minutes. This is easily enforced by the Driver. What if the Driver is late? Agree on a contingency plan if the Driver is excessively late.
• Establish Ground Rules. Discuss possible irritants upfront. Smoking/non-smoking, music/type/volume, eating/drinking, perfume/cologne, driving speed, conversations/topics that are taboo, etc.
• Communication. Establish a proper communication channel. Who calls whom and how and under what circumstances (eg. sick, delay, absence, etc.).
• Driver's Responsibilities. The car and driver are insured. The car is well-maintained, clean and has sufficient fuel and tyres are safe and correctly inflated. The Driver must choose a safe route and speed. Agree on an alternative driver or a contingency plan, if the Driver is sick or delayed or absent.
• Passenger's Responsibilities. Observe the ground rules, be punctual, and be considerate to the other occupants in the car.