January 30, 2008- I would probably not shock the average JMU student if I informed him (or more likely her) that alcohol consumption by students is a popular weekend activity in this and most college communities across the United States. Many seniors can probably still recall freshman year and the first time they ventured on the weekend night shuttle from Godwin bus stop and the crazy shenanigans that ensued. They might think back, and sigh as they remember walking back to their dorms at 4:00 in the morning from their first college party, since they did not know what time the buses stopped running. These same seniors are probably 21 or over and perhaps their days of taking the night shuttle are over. They may even prefer bars to apartment parties. However, are these seniors any wiser from their freshmen selves? Are most college students sensible enough to drink responsibly? I raise this question, because drunk driving is still a consistent problem for many college students.
I mentioned upperclassmen, because as 21 year olds, they are possibly more likely to venture beyond where the buses go, they may not want to fraternize with the freshmen on the night shuttle, and they may not want to shell out the cash for a taxi. In these circumstances, the mature and responsible thing to do is designate someone who will sacrifice their alcohol intake for the night, and drive everyone safely home. Yet, it never seems to be this simple. For some social circles, it may be difficult to find a volunteer who will deliver everyone home safe and sound. People start to throw out thoughts to the group, like “Well your apartment is what- two blocks from the bar? We’ll be fine.”
Yet, too often, people are not fine. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about 3 in every 10 Americans will be involved in some type of alcohol related accident in their lifetimes. They also report that about one person every half hour is killed in an alcohol related traffic accident. Don’t you think those drunk drivers thought they would be fine too?
Many JMU students are responsible and take buses, taxis, walk, designate a driver, sleep over a friend’s house, or use Safe Rides when they know they will be drinking. However, chances are there still are the occasional few who think they can beat the odds. For those foolish few and those interested in drunk driving prevention- there will be an event just for you. University Program Board is collaborating with the Health Center to bring the Save a Life Tour to campus on Tuesday, February 26, 2008. Save a Life Tour is an educational program aimed at preventing drunk driving. Along with promotional materials and a discussion with a representative who has personal experience with a drunk driving incident, there will be a drunk driving simulator. The simulator will test a participant’s reaction time, once an alcohol intake delay is added.
According to University Mothers Against Drunk Driving, about 2.1 million college students between the ages of 18-24 will drive under the influence of alcohol each year. Many college students, maybe some of those 2.1 million, feel invincible and that accidents happen to ‘other people.’ Well kudos that they feel so confident in themselves and their driving capabilities, but they need to do themselves and the rest of us a favor and get off the road! For one amazing night of drinking and driving, may lead to many nights of regret.
Sources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “2006 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment – A Preview.” DOT 810 791. Washington DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, July 2007. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810791.PDF
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “The Traffic Stop and You: Improving Communications between Citizens and Law Enforcement.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, March 2001, DOT HS 809 212. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/enforce/Traffic%20Stop%20&%20You%20HTML/TrafficStop_index.htm.
UMADD. Underage Drinking and Drunk Driving Statistics Among College Students. http://www.madd.org/getdoc/69e5fc38-7840-48b2-9186-027b21a3d5c7/CollegeStatistics.aspx. (Accessed January 30, 2008).
I mentioned upperclassmen, because as 21 year olds, they are possibly more likely to venture beyond where the buses go, they may not want to fraternize with the freshmen on the night shuttle, and they may not want to shell out the cash for a taxi. In these circumstances, the mature and responsible thing to do is designate someone who will sacrifice their alcohol intake for the night, and drive everyone safely home. Yet, it never seems to be this simple. For some social circles, it may be difficult to find a volunteer who will deliver everyone home safe and sound. People start to throw out thoughts to the group, like “Well your apartment is what- two blocks from the bar? We’ll be fine.”
Yet, too often, people are not fine. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about 3 in every 10 Americans will be involved in some type of alcohol related accident in their lifetimes. They also report that about one person every half hour is killed in an alcohol related traffic accident. Don’t you think those drunk drivers thought they would be fine too?
Many JMU students are responsible and take buses, taxis, walk, designate a driver, sleep over a friend’s house, or use Safe Rides when they know they will be drinking. However, chances are there still are the occasional few who think they can beat the odds. For those foolish few and those interested in drunk driving prevention- there will be an event just for you. University Program Board is collaborating with the Health Center to bring the Save a Life Tour to campus on Tuesday, February 26, 2008. Save a Life Tour is an educational program aimed at preventing drunk driving. Along with promotional materials and a discussion with a representative who has personal experience with a drunk driving incident, there will be a drunk driving simulator. The simulator will test a participant’s reaction time, once an alcohol intake delay is added.
According to University Mothers Against Drunk Driving, about 2.1 million college students between the ages of 18-24 will drive under the influence of alcohol each year. Many college students, maybe some of those 2.1 million, feel invincible and that accidents happen to ‘other people.’ Well kudos that they feel so confident in themselves and their driving capabilities, but they need to do themselves and the rest of us a favor and get off the road! For one amazing night of drinking and driving, may lead to many nights of regret.
Sources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “2006 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment – A Preview.” DOT 810 791. Washington DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, July 2007. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810791.PDF
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “The Traffic Stop and You: Improving Communications between Citizens and Law Enforcement.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, March 2001, DOT HS 809 212. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/enforce/Traffic%20Stop%20&%20You%20HTML/TrafficStop_index.htm.
UMADD. Underage Drinking and Drunk Driving Statistics Among College Students. http://www.madd.org/getdoc/69e5fc38-7840-48b2-9186-027b21a3d5c7/CollegeStatistics.aspx. (Accessed January 30, 2008).
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