Risk Management

Driver's Guide

Contents:

State Vehicles

Personal Vehicles

Rental Vehicles

Employee Injuries

Safety Belts

Cellular Phone Usage Guidelines While Driving

Accident Reporting Procedures

State Vehicles

State vehicles are to be used for official business only, not for personal use. (Section 301.260 RSMo)

State vehicles are to be operated only by state employees who possess a valid drivers license.  Unless otherwise provided by law, non-state individuals such as volunteers, spouses, and children should not operate state vehicles.  Further, they should not be passengers in a state vehicle unless they are on official state business.   Contractors are prohibited from using state vehicles unless they adequately indemnify the State of Missouri.

Liability to other persons (bodily injury and property damage) due to employee negligence in the operation of a state vehicle will be covered by the state, provided the employee was operating the vehicle while conducting official business within the scope of their employment.

Personal property in state vehicles is not insured for loss or damage by the state. Coverage for these items may be provided by your personal homeowner, renter or private auto policy. Check your personal policy or contact your insurance agent.

Personal Vehicles

Some conditions of state employment may require the use of personal vehicles for official business.

Like most employers, the state pays mileage when a personal vehicle is used for official business. The established mileage reimbursement rate takes into consideration all costs of owning and operating a vehicle - including fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation. The reimbursement rate represents full compensation for the costs of operating your vehicle and therefore you maintain total responsibility to adequately insure, safely operate, properly maintain, and protect your own vehicle.

Physical damage or loss to your private vehicle and/or its personal property contents is not covered by the state. Coverage should be obtained through personal auto insurance.

Liability to others, including passengers, must be covered by your private auto policy. Most private auto policies exclude business activities. However, exclusions may vary depending on the extent of business usage. Not all policies are the same and levels of coverage differ. Refer to your policy or contact your agent for coverage specifics.

Rental Vehicles

Usage of in-state rental vehicles for official state business is provided liability coverage by the State Legal Expense Fund, including liability, comprehensive and collision coverages. For vehicles being rented outside the State of Missouri, Risk Management encourages the agency to purchase the liability coverage through the rental agency. Usage of rental vehicles for personal activities is not covered by the state, therefore you must obtain coverage with the rental company, your personal auto insurer, or arrange other means of transportation (i.e. public transportation) at your own expense.

Employee Injuries

Workers' compensation is provided to employees who suffer injury arising out of and in the course of employment. This includes injuries resulting from vehicle accidents in state, personal, or rental vehicles when conducting official state business in accordance with the provisions of the Missouri Workers' Compensation Law.

Safety Belts

Drivers and front seat passengers must wear a safety belt. Buckle up, it's the law.

Cellular Phone Usage Guidelines While Driving

Cellular phone use is quickly expanding for employees during business travel.  While the availability of cellular phones on the roadway has benefited in emergency calls, reporting congestion, etc., driver inattention and distraction has been implicated in some traffic accidents.  Studies suggest that drivers who use car phones increase the risk of an accident.  To improve the safety of employees, passengers and the public, driving guidelines have been developed for the use of cellular phones in vehicles.

• Always practice safe driving by buckling up, keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
• Be familiar with your cell phone features such as speed-dial and redial.
• Position your phone where it is easy to see and reach.
• Hands-free microphones are suggested while driving.
• Alert the person that you are speaking with that you are operating a vehicle.
• Use the manual dialing option only when stopped at a stoplight or pull off of the roadway.
• Ask the passenger to make the call for you.
• Use the speed-dialing feature for frequently called numbers.
• Allow your voice mail to pick up your calls when it is unsafe to answer the car phone.
• Do not use the cellular phone in distracting traffic conditions.
• Cease the use of cellular phone conversations during hazardous situations such as bad weather conditions or congested traffic.
• Never take notes while driving, pull off the road if you must write.
• Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations while driving.
• Keep conversations brief and limited to business discussions.
• End the call without warning if the traffic situation warrants it.
• Stay in the slow lane while talking and do not pass other vehicles.  Keep your driving maneuvers simple.
• If you see an emergency situation, pull to the side of the road to make the call to request assistance.

Remember:  Safe driving is your first priority.  Always assess the traffic conditions.  Use the cellular phone when it is safe and convenient.

For more information on the safety of wireless communications in vehicles, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/wireless/c6.htm.

Accident Reporting Procedures

A driver involved in an accident in a state vehicle or rental vehicle should contact the nearest law enforcement official. Do not make any statement concerning assumption of liability. Give only the information required by the law enforcement authorities. Obtain the name, address, vehicle registration, driver license number, and phone number of the other drivers and information on any other persons involved. Obtain insurance information from the other drivers. State vehicles should have a liability card in the vehicle certifying liability coverage. Record facts about the vehicle property damage and any damage to other property. Get the names and addresses of all available witnesses to the accident. Call Risk Management at (573) 751-4044. Do not sign any statements except those required by law enforcement officials or Risk Management. Report the accident to your state agency and complete in full an Automobile Loss Notice Form # MO300-0068. Forward the completed form to Risk Management within two days. Request a copy of the police report and forward it to:

Risk Management
Office of Administration
P.O. Box 809
Jefferson City, MO 65102.

Click for more complete information concerning accidents in state vehicles.