The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has announced it will administer a grant involving Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) in the effort to reduce impaired driving tragedies. The grant will boost community outreach efforts by SADD to help lower the number of young Californians killed or injured in crashes that involve impaired drivers.
The $311,000 grant was awarded to ABC by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Through this grant, SADD will hold several events to educate the public about the dangers of impaired driving through community outreach, social media, and research.
“Car crashes continue to be a leading cause of death and injury for the teens of California. With support from the Office of Traffic Safety and the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control, SADD students will work to empower their peers, engage their parents, mobilize their communities, and change behavior, said Rick Birt, SADD President and CEO. “This peer-to-peer approach is critical to keep young people safe.”
SADD will be holding educational programs with catchy names such as ‘Rock the Belt” and “Is it Worth the Risk” to increase student participation. They also hope to increase the number of chapters in California, so more high school students are involved in raising awareness about teen driving safety. Additionally, the grant provides SADD with resources to strengthen community outreach through interactive community programs, and the development of media campaign materials.
“These programs and materials will help SADD address the issues of teen traffic safety by promoting prevention and education about underage drinking, distracted driving, impaired driving, and driving near large vehicles on the roads and highways,” said ABC Director Jacob Appelsmith.
The SADD grant program activities will run through September 30, 2020.
ABC protects communities through education, and by administering prevention and enforcement programs designed to increase compliance with California’s alcoholic beverage laws. ABC licensees and their employees are encouraged to take ABC’s free four-hour LEAD training classes to help achieve higher compliance with alcoholic beverage laws. LEAD stands for Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs.
To learn more about ABC programs that help protect communities, prevent alcohol-related harm, and save lives, visit https://www.abc.ca.gov/. ABC’s mission is to provide the highest level of service and public safety to the people of the State through licensing, education, and enforcement.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ABC is a department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.