Relevance • Texas continues to lead the nation in alcohol-related fatalities and serious bodily injuries. • Many thousands are arrested for DWI, but law enforcement cannot catch all offenders. Estimates are that only one in 1,000 drinking drivers are caught. • In 2014, 1,446 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in Texas where a driver was under the influence of alcohol. This is 41% of the total number of people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. • In 2014, 99,125 people were arrested for DWI in Texas just by the Department of Public Safety. Figures are not available for municipalities or other state agencies. • Nearly one in three Texas high school students reported having been in a car with a driver who had been drinking — the highest proportion in the country. • Nearly one in six high school seniors have driven after using an illicit drug. About one in four had recently ridden in a car with such a driver. Among 12th graders, driving after marijuana use is more common than drinking and driving. Response The statewide Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Program, Watch UR BAC, provides resources for a wide variety of programming in alcohol and drug awareness, including zero tolerance for under age 21, alcohol poisoning, and the dangers of drug-impaired driving. Additional resources include: • Access to the Watch UR BAC website for county Extension agents to find information for youth and adults, our schedule of events, links, and contact information. • Dynamic hands-on tools, including the DWI prevention simulators and pedal car. Simulators are operated with the driver wearing impaired driving goggles and can be used at schools and community events. • Select resources in Spanish; contact Watch UR BAC for assistance with these programs. • A newly-developed campaign called “Drive High, Get a DWI” to bring awareness to the issue of driving under the influence of drugs. • Programs that can be tailored to meet clients’ needs. Different options include a short formal presentation and hands-on activities. Another option is a “Lunch and Learn” held during school or employee lunch periods. Programs can also be supported through Watch UR BAC staff shipping materials to the client’s location for use at an event. Parent meetings are an effective way to keep parents and educators up-to-date on the most recent trends in underage drinking and other drugs. Watch UR BAC Alcohol Awareness Program watchurbac.tamu.edu
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Relevance• Texas continues to lead the nation in alcohol-related
fatalities and serious bodily injuries.
• Many thousands are arrested for DWI, but lawenforcement cannot catch all offenders. Estimates arethat only one in 1,000 drinking drivers are caught.
• In 2014, 1,446 people were killed in motor vehiclecrashes in Texas where a driver was under theinfluence of alcohol. This is 41% of the total numberof people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes.
• In 2014, 99,125 people were arrested for DWI inTexas just by the Department of Public Safety.Figures are not available for municipalities or otherstate agencies.
• Nearly one in three Texas high school studentsreported having been in a car with a driver who hadbeen drinking — the highest proportion in thecountry.
• Nearly one in six high school seniors have drivenafter using an illicit drug. About one in four hadrecently ridden in a car with such a driver. Among12th graders, driving after marijuana use is morecommon than drinking and driving.
ResponseThe statewide Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Program, Watch UR BAC, provides resources for a wide variety of programming in alcohol and drug awareness, including zero tolerance for under age 21, alcohol poisoning, and the dangers of drug-impaired driving. Additional resources include:• Access to the Watch UR BAC website for county
Extension agents to find information for youth andadults, our schedule of events, links, and contactinformation.
• Dynamic hands-on tools, including the DWIprevention simulators and pedal car. Simulators areoperated with the driver wearing impaired drivinggoggles and can be used at schools and communityevents.
• Select resources in Spanish; contact Watch UR BACfor assistance with these programs.
• A newly-developed campaign called “Drive High,Get a DWI” to bring awareness to the issue of drivingunder the influence of drugs.
• Programs that can be tailored to meet clients’ needs.Different options include a short formal presentationand hands-on activities. Another option is a “Lunchand Learn” held during school or employee lunchperiods. Programs can also be supported throughWatch UR BAC staff shipping materials to theclient’s location for use at an event. Parent meetingsare an effective way to keep parents and educatorsup-to-date on the most recent trends in underagedrinking and other drugs.
Watch UR BAC Alcohol Awareness Program watchurbac.tamu.edu
• Subcontracts with When Sean Speaks, an alcoholawareness program to share the dangers of gettinginto a car with a drinking driver, and the AmberMenefee crash car exhibit, which is a mobile crashcar exhibit that demonstrates the dangers ofimpaired driving.
The Watch UR BAC alcohol awareness program is funded through federal funds that are competitively awarded through the Texas Department of Transportation.
Results• More than 66,800 people participated in Watch UR
BAC programs in 2014 at 243 separate events.
• Watch UR BAC held a majority of the programs inTexas schools, impacting young lives throughout thestate. By experiencing the DWI prevention simulatorand/or pedal car, students had a sensory experienceof how dangerous drunken driving can be. While thedriving experience is considered “fun” to many, theeducational component that goes before the drivingexperience is critical to emphasizing the importanceof always driving sober since there is no “reset”button in life as there is on the DWI preventionsimulator.
Success Stories• “The students and staff are still talking about the
impact the simulator and the SFST testing will havefor Randall High School. The administration andteachers are challenging students to take a pledge notto drive under the influence of anything!” – Principal,Randall High School (December 10, 2014)
• “Thank you and Sean for a wonderful day. The kidshave talked of nothing else. It's been so great to hearall of their reactions. I even heard one group talkingabout changing plans for their post-prom party.” –Teacher who attended a When Sean Speakspresentation (January 28, 2015)
• “You gave an incredible presentation and I knoweveryone loved the simulator! I know of severalpeople who were impacted by your talk and you verywell might have changed their whole lives.” – HighSchool Student/4-H participant (June 23, 2015)
Points of Contact
• Bobbi Brooks, Program Manager;[email protected] or 979.862.8325
• Laura Dean-Mooney, Program Coordinator;[email protected] or 979.862.1911
• Janet Sandera, Program Coordinator;[email protected] or 979.458.0124
• Tanner Kilpatrick, Program Assistant;[email protected] or 979.845.2444
AgriLifeExtension.tamu.edu
Contact: Family Development & Resource Management
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Serviceph. 979.845.3850fx. 979.845.6496
http://fcs.tamu.edu
The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal
employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife.
Related Documents
