Nonprofit Risk Management 

Tip of the Month - September 2008

Back to School, and Back on the Road

When we worry about transportation risks many of us imagine a multi-vehicle accident involving a volunteer driver, or a 16-passenger van operated by an after-school program speeding too fast along a winding road. How many of us envision a vehicle backing into a stationery object? That’s actually a risk that is quite common in the nonprofit with countless claims filed every year by nonprofit personnel driving vehicles owned by the nonprofits they serve or borrowed from co-workers. Luckily it’s easy to prevent with a few precautions. Such accidents often occur because the driver is not used to driving the nonprofit’s vehicle, such as large vans which may be bigger and more difficult to maneuver than the driver’s personal auto. Because the driver is not accustomed to the vehicle or using the vehicles’ mirrors, drivers are more likely to back into poles, concrete pillars, guardrails, and other vehicles. This damage is expensive to repair, can impact the nonprofit’s auto insurance rates, and keeps the vehicle out of service during the repair, which adds insult to injury. To prevent such accidents, provide adequate lighting in enclosed areas onsite. Consider placing reflective signs on vertical poles, and signs cautioning drivers to be aware of small children who may be walking through the parking area, out of sightlines visible from rear view mirrors. Encourage volunteers and employees who are driving on behalf of the nonprofit never to back up without asking someone else to spot for the driver. Make certain that drivers driving unfamiliar vehicles take the time to review all key safety equipment on the vehicle prior to departing on a trip. Another simple procedure is almost foolproof: Encourage staff and volunteers to park vehicles where they can be pulled out front first.

About the Nonprofit Risk Management Center:  The Nonprofit Risk Management Center (NRMC) was established in 1990 to provide assistance and resources for community-serving nonprofit organizations. As a nonprofit, the Center is uniquely positioned to both understand and respond to questions with practical, affordable suggestions for controlling risks that threaten a nonprofit’s ability to accomplish its mission.

NRMC's mission is to help nonprofits cope with uncertainty. We offer a wide range of services (from technical assistance to software to training and consulting help) on a vast array of risk management topics (from employment practices to insurance purchasing to internal controls and preventing child abuse). We do not sell insurance or endorse organizations that do. Look to the Nonprofit Risk Management Center’s regional meetings, monthly Webinars, and online Risk Management Classroom for additional training at www.nonprofitrisk.org.

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