Churches and other non-profit organizations frequently use volunteer drivers for church buses, vans, and private automobiles.  These vehicles transport children, teenagers, and senior citizens to and from all sorts of activities.  

Churches operating buses, as "Non-business Private Motor Carriers of Passengers" are required to comply with certain elements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.  For more information, visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's PMCP information page at mchs.fhwa.dot.gov/factsfigs/eta/MCpassengers.html, or follow this link and read the answer to question 18. 

While most of the volunteers are well-intentioned good drivers and are qualified on the appropriate vehicle, many of them are untrained in professional driving techniques. 

Newspaper accounts of a 1992 fatal church van accident, and subsequent news accounts of church bus, van, and private-automobile accidents led Arthur Gaudet to develop a presentation for non-profit Private Motor Carriers of Passengers.   We believe that, in this area, a little knowledge may literally save a life.

In the presentation, we discuss vehicle safety and reliability, common driving errors, major causes of accidents, driver fatigue, driving in convoy with other vehicles, railroad crossing safety, and other issues are presented.

This presentation is available to Dallas-area churches, contact us at runcutter@runcutter.com.