Driver for After School Sports and Field Trips

DIOCESE OF ORANGE 

According to the Diocese of Orange Vehicle Guidelines, volunteer drivers must be 25 years of age or older, possess a valid unrestricted driver’s license, possess current vehicle registration, and carry the required insurance coverage in effect on any vehicle used. Volunteer drivers and their personal autos are not covered under the Diocese of Orange certificate of coverage. A volunteer driver’s personal auto insurance is primary should there be an accident.

Copies of these documents should be kept in the business office at the parish/school for all volunteer drivers:

1. driver’s license, and

2. insurance coverage declaration page.

Each location has the authority to require a Department of Motor Vehicles report for any volunteer driver. In addition, each occupant of a volunteer’s vehicle must have and use a seat belt.

It is now imperative that volunteer drivers for the diocese complete the following:

1. Volunteer Driver Form (attached)

2. Online training course, Be Smart – Drive Safe, offered through Catholic Mutual Group’s website.

In an effort to reduce the incidents of volunteer driver accidents, the online training course, Be Smart – Drive Safe, has been designed and offered by Catholic Mutual Group, the diocesan insurance provider. This course must be completed by all volunteer drivers in the Diocese of Orange. This is a condensed 18-minute defensive driving course. See the attached Be Smart-Drive Safe User Instructions and Safe Driving FAQ documents to access the online training via the Catholic Mutual website.

In instances for which volunteer drivers are needed to transport students to school events, the diocesan protocols for Chaperones must be in place.
Chaperones/Drivers of Students:

1. Must be over 25 years of age or older.

2. One chaperone for every 5-10 student participants.

3. A minimum of 2 chaperones should attend any parish or school-sponsored event. It is ideal to have 2 adults in any

   vehicle transporting students.

4. Both male and female chaperones should supervise any co-ed event or field trip.

5. No chaperone should be alone with a student/field trip participant at any time, other than a parent with their own

   child.

6. No alcoholic beverages may be consumed by any chaperone at a diocesan event.

7. Adult chaperones should complete an Adult Waiver & Release Form for the business office.