Trust is something a person earns. This requires time. It should not be given quickly, foolishly or without careful consideration.

We state the obvious here because there are some people out there who should not be trusted. There are also people who are quite strange and some who are just intolerable. You are the only person who can decide this for yourself. CarPoolGlobal cannot and does not certify, endorse or attest to the character of CarPoolGlobal users.

We at CarPoolGlobal are not safety experts and are not qualified to recommend specific safety procedures. The items below are among the practices you may consider to help ensure your personal safety:

• Do not disclose your real name, email, address or employer at first. Use CarPoolGlobal to communicate with them using your screen name. (This will shield your personal information and email address.)
• Do not ride with someone you don’t trust or that makes you uncomfortable.
• You may agree to an initial trial period so both parties can "test the waters".
• Make it clear at the onset of the carpool that there may be circumstances later that will make it impossible for you to continue. This makes it clear that the carpool is not a "permanent" arrangement and gives you a diplomatic way out later.
• Ride with more than one other individual. This makes the experience safer and enhances all aspects of the program.
• Make your pick-up/drop-off point a public location until you thoroughly trust the other individual. (You may desire to make this arrangement permanent.)
• Meet at a public park or contact churches, restaurants or other establishments that benefit from having cars in their lot.
• Arrange for a face-to-face meeting in a public setting before agreeing to ride together. This will give you a chance to “get a feel” for the person and clear up any questions, concerns or special needs you may have.
• If you agree to ride together, get the other person’s driver’s license or license plate or VIN (vehicle registration number) in advance and share that information with a trusted friend or relative.
• Take a picture of the other person and their vehicle.
• Finally, trust your instincts. If something causes “red flags” to go off, do not agree to the carpool. If you're currently carpooling, politely terminate the arrangement immediately and arrange an alternate ride home if necessary. All participation is "at will" and can be terminated at any time by any person for any reson.