UNG Student Health Services awarded grant to educate on roadway dangers

The number of fatalities on Georgia's roadways in 2017 stands at 1,256, with two months left in the year, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

That averages out to 156 deaths per week, or the equivalent capacity of a medium-body passenger airliner.

In an ongoing effort to educate University of North Georgia (UNG) students on the perils of bad driving, the Georgia Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) Georgia Young Adult Program awarded a $6,629 grant to UNG's Department of Student Health Services. UNG has been the recipient of the grant every year since 2010; the award year runs from Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018.

The funds will be used to support and promote programs about highway safety offered by Student Health Services throughout the year. The events include "No Phone Zone Day," on the dangers of distracted driving while texting or talking on cell phones; multiple events on impaired driving, such as "Blame it on the Alcohol" during Weeks of Welcome, "Mocktail" Hour, "Luau in Chow," and Safe Spring Break Week alcohol awareness; and a seatbelt safety check held once per semester.

"The GOHS grant gives us a tremendous opportunity that we may not have otherwise to reach our UNG community with valuable information regarding highway safety," said Karen Tomlinson, health educator for the Department of Student Health Services. "With this grant, we are able to develop, promote and implement programs and events to educate our students on the major contributing factors of injuries and fatalities on Georgia highways."