The University of West Georgia has received a $10,500 grant to participate in the Georgia Young Adult Program (GYAP) of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The GOHS Young Adult Program addresses young adult driver crashes, injuries and fatalities and partners with colleges and universities throughout the state to implement the GYAP.

This program has proven to be successful using strategies such as peer education, providing educational speakers 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,” said Allen Poole, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “We ask everyone to join the mission of saving lives on our roads by driving the speed limit, wearing your seatbelt, staying off the phone when driving, and never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

The GYAP program at UWG coordinates events such as DUI simulator visits; a trivia event for students; travel to the Southern College Health Association Conference for the university’s lead health educator and two peer educators; office supplies; educational materials; and a pedal kart that simulates driving under the influence.

Ronald King, assistant director of health education at UWG, said the grant will help support the Office of Health Education’s mission.

“Our mission in Health Education is to drive lasting, large-scale change on critical wellness issues facing UWG students,” King said. “This grant is important to me because it helps students adopt healthy behaviors centered around high-risk alcohol use and highway safety through educational evidence-based programs, data and services.”

For more information on GOHS and this grant program, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org.