Colleges attending the event included Concordia University, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University–Kingsville, Texas State University, the University of Texas–Pan American, the University of Texas at Brownsville, the University of Houston, Huston-Tillotson University and the University of the Incarnate Word.

 

The two-day symposium had 12 breakout sessions. Topics included:

 

• peer-to-peer programs/strategies that can be used on campus;

• driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws;

• screening and intervention;

• use of social norms and marketing to prevent DWI; and

• drugs of choice, other than alcohol, on campus.

“The goal for the weekend was to create awareness about the dangers of impaired driving, empower the students with ideas and resources to combat this issue, and have the students take that knowledge back to their campuses,” said Russell Henk, director of the U in the Driver Seat program. “Impaired driving is a real problem in Texas, and calling attention to that fact is the first step in changing behavior and preventing motor vehicle crashes.”

 

A second symposium will be held Sept. 5 and 6 at Southern Methodist University.

 

U in the Driver Seat was created to promote peer-to-peer education about the risks of impaired driving. This initiative was inspired by the highly successful Teens in the Driver Seat program that was created more than 10 years ago to reduce the large number of teenage deaths due to motor vehicle crashes.

 

Find out more about U in the Driver Seat on the program’s website.