UNG secures highway safety grant

The University of North Georgia (UNG) has received a $24,312 grant to participate in the Georgia Young Adult Program (GYAP) of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. The program addresses young adult driver crashes, injuries and fatalities and partners with colleges and universities throughout the state to implement the GYAP.

"The GOHS has a massive outreach on the University of North Georgia’s campuses. Students actively engage with the events and have a genuine interest in the educational programs," Matilee Rogers, GOHS peer health educator in Campus Recreation and Wellness, said. "Many students demonstrate a greater understanding of highway safety and are willing to carry out safer highway practices after learning about the consequences of high-risk practices."

The GYAP 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. The grant runs out of the office of Campus Recreation and Wellness and collaborates with multiple offices across the Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses.

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.

"Part of the GOHS mission is to assist in the implementation of programs and campaigns designed to prevent crashes and eliminate traffic deaths on our roads," Allen Poole, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, said. "GOHS will continue to develop new partnerships and continue existing ones in order to create, refine and implement safety programs designed to help our state and nation reach our goal of zero traffic deaths."

The grant year for this award will be Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025.

For more information on this grant program, contact GOHS at 404-656-6996, and for more information on GOHS and its other highway safety programs, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org.