Carpooling provides a more fuel efficient way for many to get to work or school. But it only works effectively if all involved agree to pull their weight and offer fuel money to the designated driver. But what if you regularly pick up passengers and they never offer to compensate you for the fuel that you have spent in driving back and forth each day? Should you continue to carpool with such individuals?
Discernment is certainly required from the driver when deciding whether or not to continue allowing non-paying passengers to carpool with them. A lot of designated drivers who agree to a carpooling arrangement want to help share the fuel expenses with passengers, offsetting the usual cost of fuel and therefore saving money into the bargain. This also helps with reducing car emissions, which is an added benefit to the environment.
Some drivers refrain from asking their passengers for fuel money as they are afraid that doing so will alter others' perception of them. But if passengers regularly accept a lift from a designated driver, they should offer to cover their own expenses so that they do not become an unnecessary burden to the driver. Resentment can grow quickly and this can mar relations between the driver and passengers if the driver feels that they are being taken advantage of by passengers who regularly accept a ride to work or school each day but without offering to pay their way.
It is ultimately up to the designated driver to decide whether they should continue to carpool with passengers who do not offer any fuel money. But they should weigh the situation carefully before reaching their decision and see if the passengers compensate them in any other way that is of use to them. But if the driver has decided that they definitely want to end the arrangement, they should ask themselves if the end of the carpool arrangement will result in financial hardship for the passengers involved. Can the passengers carpool with other friends or work colleagues rather than rely on their services each day? These considerations can help drivers to reach a decision based on the facts rather than hastily break off the carpool arrangement without thinking through the consequences for all concerned. But when all is said and done, the driver has every right to refuse to carpool with passengers they find offensive, rude and unwilling to pay their way.
