The Story of CARPOOL | How Jeff Schiefelbein Started Texas A&M's Free Safe Ride Program in 1999
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box-shadow: none !important;
}
.carpool-footer .mobile-break {
display: none;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-inner {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-title {
margin: 0 0 10px;
font-size: 1.05rem;
font-weight: 600;
letter-spacing: 0.02em;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-title strong {
font-weight: 800;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-stats {
margin: 0 0 18px;
font-size: 0.92rem;
opacity: 0.9;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-actions {
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
gap: 12px;
flex-wrap: wrap;
margin-bottom: 22px;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-btn {
color: #fff;
text-decoration: none;
padding: 14px 24px;
min-height: 48px;
background: rgba(255,255,255,0.12);
border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.18);
border-radius: 12px;
font-weight: 600;
font-size: 0.95rem;
transition: all 0.2s ease;
display: inline-flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
gap: 8px;
-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-btn:hover {
background: rgba(255,255,255,0.2);
transform: translateY(-2px);
}
.carpool-footer .footer-btn:focus-visible {
outline: 2px solid #fff;
outline-offset: 2px;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-btn:active {
transform: scale(0.98);
}
.carpool-footer .footer-sga {
border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.15);
padding-top: 22px;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
gap: 18px;
flex-wrap: wrap;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-sga img {
height: 48px;
width: auto;
filter: brightness(0) invert(1);
opacity: 0.9;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-sga p {
margin: 0;
font-size: 0.85rem;
opacity: 0.9;
max-width: 480px;
line-height: 1.6;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-sga a {
color: #fff;
text-decoration: underline;
text-underline-offset: 3px;
padding: 4px 2px;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-sga a:focus-visible {
outline: 2px solid #fff;
outline-offset: 2px;
border-radius: 4px;
}
@media (max-width: 700px) {
.carpool-footer {
padding: 32px 20px;
padding-left: max(20px, env(safe-area-inset-left));
padding-right: max(20px, env(safe-area-inset-right));
padding-bottom: max(32px, calc(env(safe-area-inset-bottom) + 20px));
margin-top: 0;
}
.carpool-footer .mobile-break {
display: inline;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-inner {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
gap: 18px;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-title {
font-size: 1.05rem;
margin: 0;
line-height: 1.5;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-stats {
font-size: 0.9rem;
margin: 0;
line-height: 1.5;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-actions {
flex-direction: column;
gap: 12px;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-btn {
width: 100%;
justify-content: center;
padding: 16px 24px;
min-height: 52px;
font-size: 1rem;
border-radius: 14px;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-sga {
flex-direction: column;
gap: 14px;
padding-top: 22px;
text-align: center;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-sga img {
height: 44px;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-sga p {
text-align: center;
font-size: 0.85rem;
line-height: 1.6;
}
}
@media (max-width: 360px) {
.carpool-footer {
padding: 28px 16px;
padding-bottom: max(28px, calc(env(safe-area-inset-bottom) + 16px));
}
.carpool-footer .footer-title {
font-size: 0.95rem;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-stats {
font-size: 0.85rem;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-btn {
padding: 14px 20px;
min-height: 48px;
font-size: 0.9rem;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-sga img {
height: 38px;
}
.carpool-footer .footer-sga p {
font-size: 0.8rem;
}
}
@media (hover: none) and (pointer: coarse) {
.carpool-footer .footer-btn:hover {
transform: none;
background: rgba(255,255,255,0.12);
}
}
The Story of CARPOOL
How a mistake became a lifesaving tradition at Texas A&M
On October 23, 1997 , Jeff Schiefelbein DWI in College Station MADD Victim Impact panel where he heard the story of a woman and her daughter killed in high school.
On November 11, 1998 , inspired by that story, Jeff decided to start a program his friends and the Aggie community could rely on after a night out. When his ride picked him up from the courthouse that night, he said,
"I'm going to start the best designated driver program in the country."
Over the next eight months, he and a team of dedicated students evaluated every aspect of the idea. CARPOOL vowed never to preach about drinking , but to accept everyone and help them get home safely. Education, they believed, should happen outside the car. In fact, members were encouraged to use CARPOOL if they ever needed it.
After nearly a year of research and promotion, CARPOOL began operations on September 16, 1999 at 10 pm . The first ride was called from the Texas Hall of Fame ; the drivers for Car 1 were Suzy Trainer and Evan Campbell . Student Body President Will Hurd stopped by, answered phones, and helped fine-tune operations. By the end of the night, 36 rides had been given — an amazing start for a brand-new program.
As awareness grew, so did trust and the number of rides. Other schools noticed the model and wanted to learn from it. In Spring 2000, CARPOOL received the Outstanding Achievement for a New Committee award from the Association of Former Students and Class Councils, and Jeff earned the award for Best Individual Contribution to Campus .
CARPOOL wasn't modeled after any other program. It's a unique approach we hope continues to inspire and support safe-ride programs nationwide. Since 1999, CARPOOL has given over 297,964 free rides
Historical Timeline
1997
DWI leads to community service and a pivotal MADD panel that changes everything.
1998
Commitment to build the best designated driver program in the United States.
1999
Operations launch from Texas Hall of Fame; first night delivers 36 rides across Bryan/College Station.
2000
Awards recognize CARPOOL's campus impact and innovation, including Outstanding Achievement for a New Committee.
2025
297,964 total rides
Photo Archive: 25+ Years of CARPOOL History
CARPOOL 1999 - The Beginning
CARPOOL 2000 - Growing the Mission
CARPOOL 2001 - Building Tradition
Greek Night - Community Partnership
2011 OPS Night - Operations in Action
Student Volunteer Drivers
2021 OPS Night - Modern Operations
EGGPOOL Fundraiser with Wyatt Kiel
Halloween OPS Night - Community Spirit
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