DARTMOUTH COLLEGE STUDENT DRIVER POLICY

(College-Sponsored Activities)

"Students may be authorized to drive College cars for use in connection with College-sponsored activities. Such requests must be approved by the sponsoring department or office pursuant to rules and regulations issued by the Business Affairs Office." (Refer to the Student Handbook for Use of College Vehicles by Students)

This Student Driver Policy, effective September 1, 1990 sets forth the College's regulations and procedures for all students who drive vehicles (College-owned, rented, leased or personal) in connection with College-sponsored activities and programs. By way of definition, College-sponsored activities and programs include all activities funded in any way through the College such as all recognized student organizations; Student Life, Residential/CFS Life, and Tucker Foundation programs; athletic or academic programs; and off-campus programs sponsored by the College, etc. For purposes of clarification, activities within the Hanover/Lebanon/Norwich/White River Junction area that can be characterizes as "errands" (trips to the store for food, supplies, etc.) are not subject to the College Student Driver Policy. If there are any questions regarding College sponsorship as it pertains to the applicability of the Student Driver Policy, program directors or student drivers are responsible for raising their questions with the Office of Business Affairs.

REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES

1. TRIP APPROVAL: All student travel related to College-sponsored activities and programs must be approved in advance of the trip by the faculty member, coach, administrator, dean or director responsible for the activity or program. Use of College funds will not be authorized for any trip not receiving advance approval.
2. DRIVER APPROVAL: Each student driver must complete a Student Driver Application Form (Form I) prior to being considered for inclusion on the College-approved student driver list. Applications should be submitted to the Office of Business Affairs at least seven (7) days prior to the initial need for authorization to drive a vehicle in connection with a College-sponsored activity or program. Approval as a student driver will require.
   • Minimum of one year of driving experience
   • Minimum of 1,500 miles driven (motorcycles excluded)
   • No moving traffic violations (normally, one minor speeding ticket will be allowed within the prior three (3) year period
   • No convictions for vehicular accidents resulting in damage in excess of $500 bodily injury or property damage)
   • Completion of the College-sponsored Safe Driving Program associated with approval as a student driver
   • Absence of College disciplinary sanctions which might reflect negatively on a student's ability to drive safely, such as a sanction for repeated intoxication.
   
   Any students who are on the approved student driver roster and subsequently found not to meet the above requirements will be notified by the Office of Business Affairs that they have been removed from the approved drivers list. Students removed from the list will not be permitted to drive a vehicle on College-sponsored activities, but may reapply for designation as an approved driver when they have again met the above criteria. Students not being granted approved driver status will be notified in writing as to the reason(s) for denial, and will be informed of the process to reapply for approval.
3. FIRST-YEAR STUDENT DRIVER APPROVAL: Under normal circumstances, first-year students are not allowed to bring a vehicle to Hanover or its environs (cf. The Dartmouth Driver Code, Student Handbook). However, first-year-students, as part of a College-sponsored program, may operate a vehicle if the following apply:
   • the first-year student is requested by the program director to be a student driver,
   • the first-year student's name is listed on the College's approved driver list, and
   • first-year students will not operate a vehicle for the program in excess of a 100 mile radius of Hanover.
   
   First-year students operating vehicles as approved drivers may only drive for the specific program requesting their approval as a student driver.
4. VAN TESTING: Students who will be driving vans or vehicles other than standard passenger sedans, must complete and pass the College-sponsored van testing program, coordinated by the Department of Safety and Security, prior to driving such a vehicle. The schedule of the van testing program is available through the Department of Safety and Security.
5. TRIPS IN EXCESS OF A 150-MILE RADIUS OF THE CAMPUS: When traveling to College-sponsored activities which involve one-way travel in excess of 150 miles from campus, the following will apply:
   • an overnight stay in the vicinity of the specified event the night before or the same night as the event, or
   • name an additional approved driver not participating in the activity to share the driving responsibilities.
   
   Exceptions to this regulation, other than for athletic events or other physically demanding activities, may be requested by the program director to the Office of Business Affairs.
6. USE OF PERSONAL VEHICLES: Effective January 1, 1991, it will be necessary, prior to the use of a personal vehicle for College-sponsored activities and programs, for the legal owner of the vehicle to file an Owner Approval Form (Form II) authorizing use of the vehicle for College-sponsored activities and identifying the student(s) authorized to drive the vehicle. The intent here is to ensure that vehicle owners know that their cars are being used in connection with College activity and that they may be assuming some liability. To assist students when requesting owner authorization to operate a vehicle, a sample letter requesting an owner's permission to operate a private vehicle is included as Form III.

NOTE: Additional copies of the Forms may be obtained from the Parking Office 5 Rope Ferry Road.

Questions regarding this Student Driver Policy should be referred as follows:

Revised December 1994