Should You Let Your Babysitter Drive Your Children?

Should you let your babysitter drive your children? There is no hard and fast correct answer to this question, since your circumstances as a parent may be entirely different to the circumstances of another. However, before handing over the keys to your car to any babysitter, there are some things you should consider.

First, get clear about where you want your sitter to drive your children, and why. Are these drives absolutely necessary? If they are for appointments, can they be re-arranged so you can drive them yourself? If your children are missing the bus home because of an after-school activity, is the activity absolutely necessary? It's not that babysitters will be any less careful behind the wheel than you would be, of course, but the question is, how will you feel if your children and your babysitter are in an accident? What if the accident is the babysitter's fault and your children are injured? And what if the accident wasn't her fault at all, but she is gravely injured, or, heaven forbid, even paralyzed or killed?

Asking your babysitter to get behind the wheel for the sake of relatively unimportant reasons is a grave undertaking. You should definitely consult your insurance company for advice and, most probably, even greater coverage to account for this situation. Likewise, if you are asking your babysitter to sit for you on a regular, ongoing basis, you may also be liable for her tax and even workman's compensation if she is injured on the job.

If, after reading this far, you decide to still let your sitter drive your children places, then there are some things that you absolutely should discuss with her before letting her get in the car. First, she should show you that she has a full and unrestricted license; you would be wise to make a photocopy or a scan of her license for extra protection. With her name and license number, most state Department of Motor Vehicles will print out a drivers record for you for a nominal charge-you should definitely study this carefully before giving her the keys. If she has a record of reckless driving or driving under the influence, get another sitter, fast!

Second, you should thoroughly review with her the safety features of the car: car seats and how they work with safety belts, how the lights and emergency flashers operate, and what you have in the trunk to be used for an emergency. It is strongly suggested that you have some other breakdown service; she can program the number of the breakdown service into her cellphone, and make a note of your account number and account holder's name, so they won't refuse to come pick her and your children up from the side of the road.

Third, make sure your tank has sufficient gas in it for the sitter's round-trip journey with your children. You do not want to put her in the awkward and annoying position of needing to fill up your tank with her own money, nor do you want to risk her running out of gas on the road. Not only is this dangerous for her and the children, but also running the gas tank to complete empty can throw sludge up into your engine, which wreaks havoc on your car.