MAINTAINING A MISSION CAR

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates a fleet of several thousand recent model automobiles assigned to the missionary department and deployed worldwide. Fifty of those cars are in service in the Maryland Baltimore Mission representing a capital investment of more than $250,000 just to cover the purchasing cost.

Elder Gibbons instructs missionaries on car maintenance

Since most of the missionaries who drive these cars are between the ages of 19 and 23 and the Church is self-insured, Church leaders are fully aware that as a group, young elders and sisters are poor drivers. As you might expect, there is considerable interest among Church leaders to ensure that each vehicle be driven safely and properly maintained.

Our mission has been designated as one of 25 missions in the United States to be involved in a pilot Driver Accountability Program. An electronic device has been installed in each mission automobile to monitor the driving habits of each missionary including use of seat belts, speed, "catching air" (going over bumps too fast so the car becomes airborne), turning sharply at excessive speed, etc. Infractions are reported automatically to the mission office and Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City. The device also "speaks" to the driver warning him or her about driving infractions before they are reported.

This is an inspired program that is intended to help missionaries to follow safe driving practices while helping to protect both the elders and sisters as well as the mission vehicles. Monitoring how the cars are being driven will also improve gas efficiency, extend tire mileage, and  lengthen the life of brakes.

Elder checks the air pressure in the tire

Elder Gibbons who manages the mission automobiles provides basic instruction for our elders and sisters regarding how they should frequently check tire pressure, oil and radiator and other fluid levels in the mission vehicles. In contrast, Sister Lindsay and I as senior missionaries are fully responsible for all of the expenses (operating, maintenance, and insurance) pertaining to the use of our car while we are on our mission . . . the missionaries think that we are lucky that we have unlimited mileage.