State awards grant for highway safety

The University of North Georgia (UNG) has received a $21,124 grant to participate in the Georgia Young Adult Program of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). It is UNG's largest grant yet from the organization. The GOHS Young Adult Program addresses young adult driver crashes, injuries and fatalities and partners with colleges and universities throughout the state.

The Georgia Young Adult Program at UNG coordinates events during Weeks of Welcome, National Collegiate Alcohol Education Week, Spirit Nights, and Safe Spring Break Week, offering activities such as DUI simulators, knowing your blood-alcohol content and drinking responsibly.

"GOHS funding allows us to provide a structured approach to educating students on making smart decisions if they choose to consume alcohol and the dangers of getting behind the wheel of a car while under the influence," Meri-Leigh Smith, UNG associate director of Wellness and Health Promotion in Campus Recreation and Wellness, said.

This program has proven to be successful using strategies such as peer education, providing educational activities to schools, and encouraging schools to develop creative, innovative techniques to reduce young adult crashes, injuries and fatalities in their communities.

"The Governor's Office of Highway Safety is working with all of our highway safety partners to reverse the increase in traffic deaths we have seen in the United States in the last two years, and the goal of this project is to prevent crashes and save lives on our roads," Allen Poole, GOHS director, said. "We ask everyone to join the mission of saving lives on our roads by driving the speed limit, wearing your seat belt, staying off the phone when driving, and never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

The grant runs out of the office of Campus Recreation and Wellness and collaborates with multiple offices across the Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses. The grant year for this award runs from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023.