Addressing all the traffic safety issues
Effective immediately, after many years of hoping, we are excited to announce that the U in the Driver Seat Program will expand its focus beyond impaired driving to incorporate four additional traffic safety risks. This broadened outreach will begin to address traffic safety issues that college students face on a regular basis yet, receive little to no resources to help address them on their campuses. These new risks include:
- Distracted driving – In 2016 there were over 46,000 distraction related crashes among 18-24 year olds (1).
- Speeding and Aggressive Driving – In 2015, Texas was ranked as the state with the most speeding related traffic fatalities with 1,105 fatalities (2).
- Lack of Seat Belt Use – Last year, over 1,000 young adults were killed or seriously injured in a car crash and were not buckled up at the time of the crash (1).
- Drowsy Driving – Continuous sleep deprivation and erratic sleep schedules are a common theme among college students. A recent study showed over 50% of college students reported constant daytime sleepiness and 70% were unable to attain sufficient sleep (3).
So what does this mean for you in the near and long term?
- Online resource pages – Since we’re on top of it, we’ve already got dedicated webpages for each risk factor up and running for your use on our website – https://www.u-driver.com/driver-risks/.
- Additional Outreach materials – In addition, we will be developing education outreach materials for your campus covering these issues and we will be distributing them as they are made available.
- Broadened Symposium Topics – While we have not finalized the agenda, we will be seeking proposals from speakers to address these four additional topics to create a true traffic safety conference that still incorporates health, peer education and prevention into one great event! We have finalized the date and location and will be sending along the save the date soon (but since you’re still reading we’ll give you a heads up to prepare for a road trip to the University of Texas – Dallas!).
- Access to new speakers – Lastly, this new focus will provide college campuses the opportunity to witness motivational speaker Tyson Dever whose message inspires students across the country. Tyson Dever’s life was changed in an instant when he was hit by a distracted driver at 22 years of age which left him paralyzed from the waist down. While his story is one of many whose lives are changed in an instant, his message is unique and full of hope and inspiration. UDS will be able to provide Tyson’s message to select college campuses throughout the school year at no cost! Please stay tuned for more information.
Thank you for your support and partnership, we are excited for this new school year!
- TxDOT Crash Records Information System (C.R.I.S.) https://cris.dot.state.tx.us, 2016
- NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts – Speeding 2015 Data. (2017)
- Hershner, and Chervin R.D. Causes and Consequences of Sleepiness Among College Students. Nature and Science of Sleep. 2014.
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