Region I Safe Communities Raises Youth Alcohol Awareness

Project Characteristics Program Areas Increase student knowledge and awareness regarding effects of alcohol consumption Alcohol Awareness PI & E Targeted Audience Jurisdiction High School Physical Education Classes Community

Goals

• To provide information and education to high school students on the effects of alcohol consumption; and
• To reinforce the dangers of underage alcohol consumption.

Strategies

On the Youth Risk Behaviors Survey an alarming number of students stated that they had ridden with an individual who had been drinking. Most youth don’t see the risk of riding with someone who had been drinking. They believe that there is no threat as long as they don’t drink and drive. The focus of this project was to attempt to show students the dangers they may be facing when they make the decision to drive with someone who has been drinking. The Region I Safe Communities Coalition wanted students to comprehend how difficult it is to perform with impaired senses.

The goggles used for the project included both daytime and nighttime and demonstrated a BAC level ranging approximately from .07 to .17. The students wore the Fatal Vision Goggles while driving golf carts through a laid out course of bright orange cones at the high school parking lot. There were many components to the course such as an “S” curve, stop signs, yields, crosswalks, and speed limits. The students were all given a chance to drive as well as ride with someone. In addition the Williston Police Department provided the students with a brief lecture followed by a question and answer session.

Results

• Many of the students were surprised to see the effects of impaired driving even with the use of the low BAC goggles.
• Many students commented that in the future they would not ride with someone who had been drinking