Frequently Asked Question's

Questions


Answers

How can you say that you are not encouraging drinking?

CARPOOL works with the Alcohol & Drug Education Program at Texas A&M to help promote the safe use of alcohol and to teach students about the consequences of drinking. We speak at every Fish Camp about alcohol safety. CARPOOL is designed to make the roads safe; our statistics reflect the number of sober and intoxicated patrons taken safely to their homes.

Why don't you turn in underage drinkers?

If students think that we turn in underage drinkers then CARPOOL will have a bad reputation among the students. This will lead to less trust from the students and eventually students will not call CARPOOL even when they need the service.

Why don't you get the patron's SSN or DL#?

Obtaining any documentation from the patrons will make them feel uncomfortable and possibly cause them to be afraid to use CARPOOL. These documents are not required to receive a free ride home; we are concerned for the safety of the community and not attempting to act as the police.

What is your relationship with the police?

We meet with each police department (Bryan, College Station, University) throughout the year. The police regularly call CARPOOL when they need to find a ride for intoxicated patrons. The police are courteous to CARPOOL members and often thank us for contributing to the safety of this community.

Do you limit your service to students?

No, as long as the patron is respectful to our drivers then we will provide a free ride. CARPOOL's primary concern is to keep the roads of this community safe. All of our advertising is geared toward students so we normally take only a small percentage of non-students home.

Why doesn't the phone number spell something?

It is expensive to customize the phone number and CARPOOL when spelled out on a phone, is 227-7665, which is not a valid extension in Bryan/College Station. By spelling something, then intoxicated students must dial the corresponding number of each letter. This is something most people have trouble with when they are sober, so CARPOOL cannot expect intoxicated patrons to be able to do this.

Does the University support CARPOOL?

Yes, the administration of Texas A&M fully supports CARPOOL. Dr. Bresciani, VP of Student Affairs, has been active in the development and promotion of CARPOOL throughout its entirety. CARPOOL meets regularly with various staff members from the university to focus on topics related to CARPOOL such as risk management, development, training, contracts, insurance, publicity, and other operational topics.

Does CARPOOL take any action if a student regularly uses the service?

No, CARPOOL does not pass judgment on anyone. CARPOOL is making the roads safer and if these people are drunk, we applaud them for utilizing CARPOOL rather than endanger the community. If someone does have a problem with alcohol, we are not professionals trained to help him or her with their problem. Texas A&M has employees that specialize in student counseling and alcohol education.