Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. This message is promoted by RADD California Coalition, the entertainment industry’s voice for road safety, a program to reduce drunk driving. The group has been promoting safe driving and expanding on the College DUI Awareness program since 1986.
RADD has successfully reached universities in San Diego. University of California, San Diego; University of San Diego; San Diego State; and California State University, San Marcos are partnered with RADD.
RADDisatwo-timerecipientofthe US Department of Transportation’s Public Service Award.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2009, 32 percent of traffic deaths in the US resulted from drunk driving. In 2009, in the state of California alone, there were 3,081 traffic fatalities resulting from driving while under the influence of alcohol.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, in 2010 there were 195,879 DUI arrests and the median age of those who received a DUI was 30 years old. Consumption of alcohol has long been a controversial topic in this country, but driving while under its influence has never been up for much debate.
The results are clearly fatal, which is why organizations such as RADD strive to make roads safer for students, especially those living in college communities.
More than 93 bars in San Diego locations offer RADD Rewards. These bars are spread throughout San Diego County, from Pacific Beach Shore Club to Flux nightclub downtown.
These locations provide incentives to the designated driver of the night, including free food, dessert or nonalcoholic beverages.
Another main component of RADD is its prepaid taxicab service. A few San Diego taxi cab services partnered with RADD and agreed in the event an individual does not have a designated driver, he or she can use a prepaid taxicab card to ensure a safe ride back home. The card comes with a prepayment of $30 for one usage, but can be used for fares of approximately $60. Some students have responded positively to this program, which is expected to grow.
“Its accessibility and rewards are great incentives that I would definitely take advantage of,” SDSU junior Christine Brice said.
With the number of DUIs and deaths resulting from drunk driving, RADD is an attempt to improve the safety of the students at SDSU.
