The Carpool Questions To Ask Before You Say Yes

Carpooling has been a commuting lifesaver ever since World War II, when oil and rubber were scarce and people began sharing rides as a practical solution. The practice surged again during the 1970s gas crisis. Today, many still rely on carpooling, particularly busy moms who need a reliable way to get their kids to school or other activities. If you're considering a ride-share arrangement with a fellow mom (or three), it's important to nail down the details before you begin. Here are some questions to get you started.

• Who will be driving? Is one parent handling the entire carpool load, or will you be taking turns? 
• What days and times? Is this a daily school run, or a twice-weekly lift to soccer practice? 
• Where will the pickup and drop-off locations be? Are you meeting the kids at their home or on the street corner? What route will you be taking?
• What permissions will you need? Make sure everyone adds the carpool drivers' contact information to their school emergency cards.
• What's your backup plan? There may be days when the designated driver can't make it (because life happens). Will you all be responsible for driving your own children, or will another mom in the group step in?
• How will expenses be handled? If only one person will be driving, it's fair to ask the other moms to contribute money toward gas and other carpool-related purchases (such as snacks or parking fees). 
• What are your car etiquette rules? Is eating and drinking allowed, and if so, are there allergy issues? Are kids allowed to use their phones or tablets in the car? Are there certain types of music you don't want played on the radio? Spelling out these things now could save you trouble later.

Whether you're the one doing the carpool driving or letting another mom do the heavy Lyft-ing, child safety is always the top priority. Once you and your carpool group have the logistics down, it's time to bring out the tougher questions.

• Does the driver have the necessary car seats? Safety protocols show that younger children need forward-facing car seats with a harness and tether, while older children need a booster seat until they're big enough for a seat belt to fit properly. You may want to invest in a seat specifically for the carpool car, depending on your passengers' sizes.
• Are all drivers licensed and insured? Your child should never ride with someone who's not legally allowed to be behind the wheel. 
• How will you keep in touch with each other? Have everyone share their own phone and email, as well as an additional emergency contact.
• Will everyone agree to go phone-free? All drivers should be willing to keep their cell phones stashed away when on the road.
• What's the policy on errands? There may be days when you want to pick up a couple of groceries or grab a snack on the way home. Are the other parents okay with extra stops?
• Can you try a trial period? Test the carpool plan for a week or two to make sure it works for everyone. If problems emerge — the driver always arrives late; the kids are too rowdy — you can either reset the parameters or find another ride-share group.

Communication is key when carpooling. If you feel uncomfortable with any of the answers to these questions, keep the discussion going until everyone is on board with the plan.