Driving students to college open day

lennyloulou

Any advice please...
Hubbie not on full hours, has 17 hours on CID, takes any extra hours he is offered and damn glad of them
Principal asked/told him to drive his people carrier/jeep that can fit 6 students to a college open day tomorrow. A good hour away, Hubbie hasn't a clue where he is going. The vehicle is the Principals and he says he has open insurance.
There is a bus going with students from another part of the school- it is full.
I do not like this at all. Hubbie was put on a spot and could not say no.
As far as I know open insurance is OK and carrying people for leisure purposes is OK but NOT for business/work purposes.. then insurance company would not cover in event of an accident???
I feel very angry with Principal , I feel he is bullying a teacher into doing something he should do himself.... what do you think

evolving_doors

lennyloulou wrote: »

Any advice please...
Hubbie not on full hours, has 17 hours on CID, takes any extra hours he is offered and damn glad of them
Principal asked/told him to drive his people carrier/jeep that can fit 6 students to a college open day tomorrow. A good hour away, Hubbie hasn't a clue where he is going. The vehicle is the Principals and he says he has open insurance.
There is a bus going with students from another part of the school- it is full.
I do not like this at all. Hubbie was put on a spot and could not say no.
As far as I know open insurance is OK and carrying people for leisure purposes is OK but NOT for business/work purposes.. then insurance company would not cover in event of an accident???
I feel very angry with Principal , I feel he is bullying a teacher into doing something he should do himself.... what do you think

maybe try the motors forum aswell...also a quick phonecall to your husband s insurance company could let you know exactly who would be liable in the event of an accident! Might be a better source of advice than second hand anecdotes. Although is probably a common enough practice in schools.

byhookorbycrook

This often comes up at primary level, we carry children to matches etc all the time. I would check with school insurance first off.

spurious

If I were your husband, as well as double checking and getting it in writing from the insurance company that he is covered, I would want it in writing from the Principal that he/she is requiring him to drive the students as part of his work.

Cover yourself and then cover yourself again is the way it is today.

TheDriver

i wouldn't take a student in my car to be honest. Unless they needed hospitalisation and then I would take more teachers than students.

On another note, these college open days get up my goat, why can't they have them on Saturdays like UCC so that 90% who only go for the doss wouldn't bother. The amount of kids who have little intention of going to do courses take it upon themselves to go around the country in 4th, 5th and 6th year whereas the ones that do intend on going stay in school except for their chosen college. Rant over.........

sitstill

TheDriver wrote: »

i wouldn't take a student in my car to be honest. Unless they needed hospitalisation and then I would take more teachers than students.

On another note, these college open days get up my goat, why can't they have them on Saturdays like UCC so that 90% who only go for the doss wouldn't bother. The amount of kids who have little intention of going to do courses take it upon themselves to go around the country in 4th, 5th and 6th year whereas the ones that do intend on going stay in school except for their chosen college. Rant over.........

I agree with this. I'm sick of losing time with 6th years because big groups of them have gone to open days for colleges that I know they have no intentions of actually applying to.

killbillvol2

sitstill wrote: »

I agree with this. I'm sick of losing time with 6th years because big groups of them have gone to open days for colleges that I know they have no intentions of actually applying to.

But the Hair and Beauty course in UCD is really excellent...

evolving_doors

killbillvol2 wrote: »

But the Hair and Beauty course in UCD is really excellent...

Better goddam work prospects than the PGDE these days, that's for sure.

DK man

sitstill wrote: »

I agree with this. I'm sick of losing time with 6th years because big groups of them have gone to open days for colleges that I know they have no intentions of actually applying to.

I have taken lots of groups to open days over the years. I just go to four events in 6th yr. higher options - local it - 1 university but only with a small group of students who are doing at least 4 hl subjects - local plc with a small group of LCA and lc students interested in beauty therapy / hair etc.

Most colleges have open days on Saturday as well as Friday. All my students get a calandar of open days in sept and are encouraged to go to any on their own with their parents. I will only allow speakers to meet my students during my guidance classes to minimise disruption to other teachers.

My experience is that it often opens up third level to those who wouldn't have really thought about it much before and can give them a new sense of purpose and focus so that they are more interested in going back to the classroom to get on with their work.

I have taken lc students in my car when buses were full. I never charge students for this even though those on the bus pay. I was told the if I'm just giving them a lift then it's not an insurance issue but if I charge then I won't be insured -

J.R.

DK man wrote: »

I have taken lc students in my car when buses were full. I never charge students for this even though those on the bus pay. I was told the if I'm just giving them a lift then it's not an insurance issue but if I charge then I won't be insured -

You will be covered by insurance but if there is an accident & any of the pupils travelling in your car lodge a claim it is your personnel insurance policy that will be paying the compensation & costs. You would lose the no claims bonus and your insurance will increase greatly the followwing year & and for some years thereafter.

Many seem to think that because they are on school business it is the school insurance that will pick up the tab....not the case.....your car - your insurance!

evolving_doors

J.R. wrote: »

You will be covered by insurance but if there is an accident & any of the pupils travelling in your car lodge a claim it is your personnel insurance policy that will be paying the compensation & costs. You would lose the no claims bonus and your insurance will increase greatly the followwing year & and for some years thereafter.

Many seem to think that because they are on school business it is the school insurance that will pick up the tab....not the case.....your car - your insurance!

Aye, he's taking the principals car though!

J.R.

Armelodie wrote: »

Aye, he's taking the principals car though!

i was referring to DK Man's position in my response but I'll also comment on the op's scenario:


It may be the principal's car - who states he has 'open' insurance.........which usually means the principal is covered to drive any car (that is insured) ....not anybody insured to drive the princpals car.....big difference!

Highly unlikely it's the other way around for private insurance.....usually only for companies.....principal will have received discounts for no claims bonus....years driving........age......address......occupation......car model etc etc. .............I cannot see how his insurance could be open driving allowing somebody with less experience, less no claims bonus etc. being fully covered to drive.

If that was the case then we could insure our car 'open driving' and then allow my 18 year old son with a licence drive it with no additional loading!!.........can't see insurance companies agreeing to that.

I would always remember when driving........driver will be answerable & ultimately could be responsible / held liable if an accident occured.

If the insurance on the car does not cover the driver then the driver will be pursued by the insurance companies for reimbursement of whatever they have to pay out in the event of an accident........paid from his own insurance or if not from his own personnel assets.

wingnut

J.R. wrote: »

'open' insurance.........which usually means the principal is covered to drive any car (that is insured) ....not anybody insured to drive the princpals car.....big difference!

If that was the case then we could insure our car 'open driving' and then allow my 18 year old son with a licence drive it with no additional loading!!.........can't see insurance companies agreeing to that.

Being able to drive other cars is standard on most polices. Open driving DOES allow YOUR policy to cover other people driving your car. The majority of open drive policies will stipulate that the drivers must be over 25 which is how they avoid the situation you describe above where it would be cheaper than adding them as a named driver. Also many open drive policies will cover other drivers for third party only even if you are comp. yourself.

Speaking from experience I have open drive on a van - anyone over 25 can drive even if they don't have their own insurance.

I don't like transporting kids but have done it a couple times.