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Bad Decisions Serve Only to Spike Drunk Driving Stats
Four words cut to the chase of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s current drunk driving prevention initiative: Don’t wreck the holidays.
In 2013, NHTSA said 1,180 people were killed in crashes on our nation’s roads during the holiday period (Dec. 18-31), and almost one-third of those fatalities (30%) were recorded in drunk-driving crashes. Texas ranked No. 1 in motor-vehicle traffic deaths by state with 3,385 in 2013, according to Injury Facts 2015, a statistical report on injuries and deaths put out by the National Safety Council.
Since holiday celebrations often involve alcohol, NHTSA offers this recommendation: Give yourself the gift of a designated driver. One more idea: Try NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, which allows users to call a taxi or a friend by identifying their location so they can be picked up.
Give a Special Gift to Protect Your Most Precious Cargo
Too often a designated driver is chosen during the evening and is the "least drunk" person in the group. Texans can help make the holidays merry and bright all season long by giving the gift of a sober drive home.
Remember, it's the most wonderful time of the year, but one poor decision to drink and drive could bring a devastating end to holiday celebrations.
Toilet Tabloids: Something New from Our Driving Concern
We've added a new feature in hopes of reaching a captive audience: Toilet Tabloids. The idea here is to present traffic safety tips and information you can print and post on bathroom walls for all to read during those times when nature calls.
In our first edition -- Home Safe for the Holidays -- you'll learn the percentage of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers in Texas, how often DUI-alcohol crashes occur statewide and how much a DWI arrest and conviction is likely to cost a Texas offender.
Measure Your Progress on the Journey to Safety Excellence
Do you know how your safety program is performing? Why not measure it with free tools from the Journey to Safety Excellence from the National Safety Council?
 When you sign up for the Journey, you gain access to a Safety System Assessment where you can evaluate your program and understand how it compares to others – helping you see what you’re doing well and where you can improve.
You do not need to be a member of NSC to take advantage of this great resource.
Deadline for Traffic Safety Award Nominations is Feb. 1
Our Driving Concern is accepting nominations for the 2016 Texas Employer Traffic Safety Award.
This award honors Texas employers who have demonstrated their leadership and commitment to encouraging positive driver behaviors among employees on and off the job. Any Texas business/municipality is eligible to submit an application.
Employers may be nominated or can self-nominate. Companies may be municipal, corporate, private or not-for-profit, small or large.
The deadline to apply is Feb 1, 2016. Award recipients will be recognized in National Safety Council/ODC publications and at the 2016 NSC Texas Safety Conference & Expo March 20-22 in San Antonio.
For examples from past winners, please view 2015 Award Recipients.
TTI Driver Study Aimed at Predicting Risk, Finding Solutions
Can a crash be predicted well in advance at least partially based on the driver’s increased stress levels?
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute is involved in a research project aimed at finding an answer to that question. In time, the results could have a far-reaching impact on everyday driving behaviors and employer traffic safety concerns.
“The purpose of the Toyota project is to identify different methods and technologies that we can use inside vehicles to detect vehicle- and driver-based errors,” said Mike Manser, manager of TTI’s Human Factors Program.
“We want to be able to predict an increased risk of these two scenarios well in advance so that we can provide either control to the vehicle or information to the driver to reduce the propensity for or to avoid a crash."
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prevention initiative: Don’t wreck the holidays.
Tabloids. The idea here is to present traffic safety tips and information you can print and post on bathroom walls for all to read during those times when nature calls.
When you sign up for the Journey, you gain access to a Safety System Assessment where you can evaluate your program and understand how it compares to others – helping you see what you’re doing well and where you can improve.
leadership and commitment to encouraging positive driver behaviors among employees on and off the job. Any Texas business/municipality is eligible to submit an application.
aimed at finding an answer to that question. In time, the results could have a far-reaching impact on everyday driving behaviors and employer traffic safety concerns.
