Authority of Employees To Accompany Driver Authorized To Commute in Government Vehicle

The FBI requested an opinion on whether it could legally permit employees to accompany the driver of a Government vehicle who is authorized to drive between his home and place of employment. The FBI policy of permitting this transportation is to maintain the agency's emergency response capability. It was held that the driver may be allowed to transport other FBI employees between those destinations, provided that the FBI makes the determination that the arrangement is in the national interest and will in no way result in additional costs or inconvenience to the Government. GAO suggested that the FBI consider any possible liability of the Government in the event of injury to the passenger employees.