STRIPES drives initiative to lower driving age requirement
Last year STRIPES went $1,000 over their $5,000 budget for gas.
Aug. 26, 2008
STRIPES, the student-run safe ride program, has proposed lowering the age requirement to drive as a volunteer from 21 to 18.
STRIPES Director Domingo Pacheco said this new initiative would increase the number of rental cars and student-volunteers to drive them, as well as reduce the wait time for its passengers.
"The whole idea is we can offer more rental cars, which means you as a patron are going have to wait less and you're less likely to cancel," Pacheco said. "So the less likely you are to drink and drive or pay for a taxi home or walk home."
Pacheco also said that the initiative would allow STRIPES to rent about eight cars on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights as opposed to its usual six cars, and that the wait time for a ride will be reduced from an hour to about 15 to 20 minutes.
The lingering initiative, which was given no set date for its acceptance or refusal by MU administrators, has been left to the judgment of Ed Knollmeyer, UM system Office of Risk Management director.
"What Domingo is looking at is waiting for Mr. Knollmeyer to look at how the drivers as students of a program that's part of the University of Missouri would be covered under the risk management policies of the university," Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs said.
Knollmeyer was not available for comment.
Pacheco said the timing of the new initiative, if it goes into effect, would provide a great service to the incoming freshman class.
"You couldn't ask for better timing because we're going to have more volunteers to operate with but we're also going to be serving more people," Pacheco said. "They're not just going to be here for a year, they're going to be here four, five, six years."
STRIPES' ambitions to lower the age requirement for their drivers has lead them to consult alternate car-rental agencies whose insurance policies apply to 18-year-old students.
Kathleen Carpentier, Avis Budget Group Corporate Account Manager, said the service put together a program that would include STRIPES using six to eight cars Thursday through Saturday, with a minimum driver age of 18.
"In some agreements it's 21, but the corporate agreement with the University of Missouri and with certain accounts that I have, it's 18," she said. "It's based upon account, and that would never be the case with just a walk up traveler."
Carpentier also said that the initiative would boost weekend business for Avis.
"It's consistent weekend fleet utilization," Carpentier said. "We are primarily a corporate provider, which is a lot of weekday type rentals. Weekends you'll find that our lots are full, so in my opinion I think that this is a good opportunity for Avis because it's consistently going to be utilizing six to eight vehicles every weekend."
Pacheco said increased gas prices have also been a challenge for STRIPES, and that the extra costs have exceeded STRIPES' budget.
"This past year we were budgeted $5,000 for gas," Pacheco said. "We spent $6,000 in gas. So how do we make up that extra $1,000? From tips."
Pacheco said the tips patrons give to STRIPES drivers are not kept by the volunteers, but are returned to the program to sustain it.
Pacheco also said that though STRIPES only operates within Columbia city limits, exceptions would be made because of new student housing.
"If you're a little outside, that's fine," he said.
STRIPES will hold a meeting this week at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, in Jesse Wrench Auditorium.
This story has been changed to reflect the following correction:
Correction: The graphic accompanying the Aug. 26 report "STRIPES drives initiative to lower driving age requirement" listed a STRIPES informational meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 5. The meeting will be Wednesday, Sept. 3. The Maneater regrets the error. (Added 4:17 p.m., August 27, 2008)
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