Great Scott… we’re back!
The U in the Driver Seat (UDS) Symposium is going to be back in person this year! Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for young adults ages 18-25 and the U in the Driver Seat education and outreach program is tackling reducing preventable car crashes for this age group.
The theme of this year’s Symposium is Back to the Driver Seat. The event is for college students, advisors, transportation safety professionals, injury prevention experts, and more! This event focuses on the dangers of impaired driving for college-aged students, by striving to provide them with the information to help them successfully navigate the collegiate landscape, gain skills and tools to become effective peer leaders and gain knowledge on various traffic safety topics, with a special emphasis on impaired driving.
UDS teams up with the Texas Department of Transportation and other public and private sponsors to present the UDS Symposium FREE for attendees.
Details
When: April 29-30, 2022
Where: Norris Conference Center, Austin, TX
Registration
Registration for the 2022 Symposium has been officially closed.
Attendance Cancellation Policy
To cancel your registration, please contact Rubi Mares [email protected] by 5:00 pm (CST) Thursday, April 15, 2022. Attendee substitutions are permitted; however, T-shirt sizes are not guaranteed. Attendee is also responsible for canceling any hotel rooms they may have secured by no later than 2 days prior to the event and will be responsible for paying any hotel fees.
Hotel
Attendees will be able to secure lodging at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Austin North Central, no later than March 31st. Individuals will be responsible for securing their own room and any charges at the time of the event.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites- Austin North Central
8500 IH 35 North – Austin, Texas 78753
Group rate: $129/night for both Single and Double Rooms.
Group Name: TAM
To reserve a hotel room please use the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Reservations link or call the hotel directly at 512-821-0707. Mention the Group Name: TAM for the discounted rate. Please be prepared to provide the credit card information to guarantee reservations. A physically present credit card will be required from all guests at check-in.
Travel Reimbursements
Limited travel reimbursement money is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Schools can be reimbursed, based on distance traveled, for travel and lodging (no food). Reimbursements will only be provided to schools whose peer educators (i.e., students) attend the symposium. Advisors who attend without students will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Please refer to these Reimbursement Guidelines for a complete list of requirements and restrictions.
Symposium Social Media Video Contest
As with previous years, we will be hosting another social media video contest. This contest is only open to attendees and will entail making a Mocktail with ingredients we provide for you at the event. After making your mocktail, it’s time to show it off in a video that also focuses on the dangers of driving impaired. The first and second place winners will receive prizes. Learn more about the contest >HERE<
Safety Notice:
Because our top priority is the safety and well-being of our UDS Teams, the Youth Transportation Safety (YTS) Program will have protocols in place in compliance with CDC recommendations for the 2022 UDS Symposium. It is highly recommended that all attendees wear a mask during sessions, in common areas, and while navigating the conference center. See the complete protocols HERE.
Tentative Agenda
Friday, April 29, 2022
| 3:00-4:00 pm | Check-in |
| 4:00-4:30 pm Red Oak Ballroom |
Welcome and Networking |
| 4:30-6:00 pm Red Oak Ballroom |
Leadership Workshop, Tyson Dever, UDS Staff, and Collegiate Advisory Board “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.” – Marty McFly |
| 4:30-5:30 pm Cypress Room |
Advisors Roundtable Meeting, UDS Staff |
| 6:00-6:15 pm Red Oak Ballroom |
You in the Driver Seat Mobile App, Christine Yager |
| 6:15-8:00 pm Red Oak Ballroom |
Dinner, Mocktails, and Networking, CAB Icebreaker & TEAM Coalition “I’m your density. I mean your destiny.” -George McFly |
Saturday, April 30, 2022
| 10:00-10:15 am | Welcome and Continental Breakfast and Networking, UDS Staff |
| 10:15-11:00 am Red Oak Ballroom |
Session One – General Session: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Challenges, Tamara Spencer |
| 11:00-11:15 am | Break |
| 11:15-12:00 pm Red Oak Ballroom |
Session Two – General Session: UDS Team Showcase, UDS Program Schools |
| 12:00-1:30 pm Red Oak Ballroom |
General Session Luncheon and Awards UP Cares – Buck Russell, Union Pacific |
| 1:45-2:30 pm | Session Three – General Session: Drugged Driving and Trivia, Lisa Minjares-Kyle, TTI & Christine Yager, TTI |
| 2:30-2:45 pm | Break |
| 2:45-3:30 pm | Session Four – Breakout Sessions, Choose a Track |
| Live Oak Room | Track 1: Distracted Driving, Devin Vyner |
| Pecan Room | Track 2: How to Incorporate Social Media, the Media, and Traffic Safety, Jack Wenzel, TTI, and Robert Nash, Sherry Matthews Group |
| 3:30-3:45 pm | Break |
| 3:45-4:30 pm | Session Five – Breakout Sessions, Choose a Track |
| Live Oak Room | Track 1: Pedestrian and Bike Safety Session, Neal Johnson, TTI, and Jake Boone, Ghisallo Cycling |
| Pecan Room | Track 2: Why Risk It? Myra Constable, MADD, and Sue Cole, UDPP |
| 4:30-4:45 pm | Break |
| 4:45-6:00 pm | Dave Davlin, Keynote Speaker and Closing Remarks “Why don’t you make like a tree and get out of here?” – Biff Tannen |
Check out the 2020 UDS Virtual Symposium>
Check out the 2019 UDS Symposium>
Check out the 2018 UDS Symposium>
Check out the 2017 UDS Symposium >
U in the Driver Seat was created in 2012, as the first peer-to-peer program for college students that focuses solely on traffic safety and addresses all the major risks. The program is available to schools, in various locations, at no cost. UDS gives you the science, guidance, and project resources to implement a successful program, the rest is up to you to create a traffic safety culture at your school.