USE OF CLASS VANS

The four white vans named Ebb, Flood, Slack, and Rip are for class use only. University of Washington policy states that only current UW faculty, staff, or students (or enrolled participants in an officially sanctioned UW program) are allowed as passengers in these vans, and only Authorized UW Vehicle Drivers may drive them.

To Become an Authorized UW Vehicle Driver

Drivers must: A) be a current, registered University of Washington student (includes students enrolled in a credited FHL course), staff, or faculty and B) have had at least two years’ driving experience.

  1. Take the Driver Safety & Awareness Training, using your UW NetID to log in.  This training is required every two years to stay current.
    • NOTE: Many of the sections of the training in the “UCAR” section are not applicable to use of the FHL vans, namely: Signing Up, Making a Reservation, and Picking Up & Returning Your Vehicle. FHL has its own procedures for these processes. Also, our procedures for Collision Reporting and Breakdown & Roadside Assistance are modified from the UCAR procedures.  During orientation at the beginning of the term, you will learn more from Jodi in the Front Office. 
  2. Complete and sign the UW Driver Agreement & Acknowledgement.
  3. Email a copy of your 1) driver’s license (front), 2) your certificate from the Driver Safety & Awareness Training, and 3) a signed Driver Agreement to the Office Coordinator.

Look up tool: If you’re unsure whether you are a current UW driver, use this lookup tool to check your status.

Reserving and Checking out Vans (Front Office).

If you plan to use vans, reserve them ahead of time on the van google calendar: note how many vans your class will need and for what times, working around reservations that have already been entered and keeping in mind that there are three vans total. The Office Coordinator will give instructors a link to the calendar. When you are ready to use the van(s), pick up the keys and sign them out on the checkout sheet in the Front Office (if you didn’t reserve the vehicles, make sure someone else hasn’t reserved them for the hours you will be using them). After your trip, leave the van in the Fernald parking lot (NOT elsewhere on campus), and return the key to the Front Office, signing the vehicle back in on the checkout sheet.

We will charge your course for all hours the keys are checked out, regardless of whether the course is actually using the vehicle. People should pick up a van key only when they are ready to go out on a trip, and return it immediately when they get back.

If you plan to check out a van before or after office hours (M-F, 8-4), let the Office Coordinator know in advance and she will leave the key in the lockbox outside Fernald Lab entrance. PLAN AHEAD: you will not be able to use a van on the weekend, evenings, or early mornings unless you have made arrangements with the Office Coordinator during office hours. If you are returning a key after hours, leave it in the lockbox. The lockbox has a clipboard with sheet on it for recording after-hour key pick up and drop off times.

IN CASE OF BREAKDOWN OR COLLISION.

If a van breaks down or you otherwise need roadside assistance while you are using it, please call the FHL Front Office during office hours (M-F, 8-4) or the FHL Caretakers after hours.

If a van is involved in a collision, first ensure that the scene is secure and any immediate medical needs are met. Then notify FHL: call the Front Office or, after hours, the FHL Caretakers. Then collect information about the scene, vehicles, and people. At a minimum, you must exchange insurance, driver’s license, and vehicle information with other drivers and property owners. If safe to do so, collect photographs of damage, vehicles, licenses, and other things related to the accident. Use the report brochure in the glove compartment as a handy place to record information. Never admit fault, accept or offer settlements at the scene. Simply exchange the necessary information and let the official reporting process handle the rest.

Finally, FHL personnel will assist you with reporting the collision to the University and if anyone was injured, filing an online accident report (OARS) for the injuries.

FHL Front Office: 206-616-0753.

FHL Caretakers: 360-298-0220

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