Safety Information

  Driving University of Alberta vehicles:
Rentals and vehicles covered by the University Insurance Policy

There are new regulations and requirements for persons renting vehicles from the University of Alberta Vehicle Pool that will be coming into effect very soon. These changes are due to an increase in payouts by our insurance provider for third party automobile liability insurance and which will result in substantial increases in our premiums if we do not take measures immediately to reduce the occurrence of accidents by University of Alberta drivers.

Further details will be forthcoming, but some changes will take place immediately and will effect persons wanting to rent vehicles for summer field schools and research in May 2002.

1. There is a new Driver Information and Consent to Obtain Driver Abstract form (Word document) that will be completed and submitted to the Risk Management office for evaluation and approval. A driver abstract will be required for all drivers (full time, seasonal, casual, volunteer). An individual can obtain their own from an Alberta Registry office for ~$15 or, Risk Management can obtain the abstract for you using the signed Driver Information form for $3 each, but this may take a few days depending on how busy they are (the fee will be charged to a speedcode). It is not clear if there will be a delay in processing the application if Risk Management has to obtain an abstract so for now, you may wish to pay the $15 and get the abstract yourself. If you are from another province or country, you must obtain the abstract and submit it with the Driver Information form.

If your driver information and abstract are satisfactory, your name will be added to an approved list that is sent to the vehicle pool. If your name is not on that list, you will not be able to be listed on the vehicle rental agreement and will not be able to drive that vehicle. If the drive information is not approved, Risk Management will contact the applicant.

2. Age Restrictions on drivers: In addition to driving restrictions if a person has more than 7 demerits on their driving record, the current policy excludes anyone under 19 years of age from driving a University of Alberta vehicle. Those between 19 and 21 years will be approved on a case by case basis. These persons should complete the "Supplemental Information form for Drivers under 21 years of age" in addition to the Driver Information form mentioned in 1.

3. In addition, when the vehicle is picked up, you will have to show a drivers licence (or provide photocopies) of all persons who will be driving the vehicle.

4. Effective June01, 2002:
persons driving a 15 person passenger van will need to have a Class 4 drivers licence (valid for ambulance, taxi and small bus). This will require a written test and a medical examination and might cost upwards of $150. Exactly who pays for this (individual, course, grant, Department or other) remains to be determined.

5. All persons who are not University of Alberta employees must sign a waiver before riding in a University vehicle. This could include volunteers, colleagues from another University or government agency or a relative IF they were volunteering to help with a project. Use the waiver called "University of Alberta - Field Schools - Non Uof A Students" (a hardcopy is available in the Forms cabinet in the Department office, CW405-BSB). Please note that persons under 18 years of age cannot sign this waiver and their parent / guardian cannot sign their rights away so no one under 18 may ride in a University of Alberta vehicle. Volunteers may drive a vehicle if they submit the driver information form and drivers abstract just like all other drivers and are approved by Risk Management. Send the completed waiver to Sherron Becker in the CW405.

Further information will be made available as it becomes available.