U in the Driver Seat: A peer to peer education program for college students dedicated to reducing their number one killer – car crashes.
Here are some stats you may not know:
- There is a higher total number of fatalities for 20-24 year olds (college) than 10-19 year old (jr. high/high school) group: 4,283 vs 3,259 (NHTSA FARS, 2021)
Motor Vehicle Occupant deaths are greatest for persons 20-24.
Source: Center for Disease Control
Who We Are
U in the Driver Seat (UDS) was created by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) in an effort reduce the number of impaired driving injuries and deaths of college aged students. This peer-to-peer initiative was inspired by the highly successful Teens in the Driver Seat© which began over 10 years ago aimed at reducing the large number of teen deaths due to car crashes.
The UDS program seeks to give college students the tools and information in order to promote peer-to-peer education regarding the dangers of driving which often including driving under the influence. Each program is different as each campus is unique regarding students, cultures, environments, etc.
Additionally, UDS does not follow any set curriculum in order to enable students to personalize the program to their own distinct collegiate cultures and environments.
Despite the diversity of our program our ultimate goal is the same – reduce the number of college students involved in car crashes.
With the support of the Texas Department of Transportation and the Houston-Galveston Area Council, TTI has been able to expand the program statewide.
How the program works
The U in the Driver Seat program is provided to selected colleges and universities at no extra cost to the campus. U in the Driver Seat can be utilized alongside an existing college group/program or stand as its own student organization. Regardless, each campus must have a designated UDS non-student sponsor to assist with the deployment of the program on the campus.
Each campus is provided educational resources to assist in activities and educating fellow students on the dangers of driving impaired. These resources are meant to provide beginning, consistent messaging so students can grow the program within their campus. Students help shape the program and are responsible for implementing it. TTI provides science, guidance, and base project resources.
If your campus is interested in starting a U in the Driver Seat program at your college, please feel free to contact us for more information. Program resources are limited.
Program Director
Lisa Minjares-Kyle, M.S., MCHES
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
(210) 321-1214 | [email protected]
Updated August 2022