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August 22, 2022

Let’s Talk… Impaired Driving Prevention

This activity will help you facilitate a guided discussion with your peers to address their attitudes and behaviors around impaired driving and starts a conversation about the negative effect impairment has on car crashes and how teens can speak up for their safety.

 Items Needed

  • Let’s Talk… Impaired Driving Discussion Guide
  • Not Everyone is Doing it video

 Steps

  1. Before your group discussion, research the topic to ensure you are knowledgeable on the subject. The References noted in this document are a good place to start.
    The references noted below are a good place to start.
  2. Plan out your discussion using these suggested conversation starters and talking points:
    • Suggested conversation starters:
      • In your opinion, why do people drive impaired?
      • Have you ever knowingly ridden with someone who was impaired?
      • Show the Not Everyone is Doing It video
    • Suggested talking points:
      • Share impaired driving statistics related to young drivers and talk about their effect on your community.
      • Does your state have a Zero Tolerance Law? If so, talk about what that means.
      • Talk about how alcohol and other drugs, such as marijuana, affect the brain and how that could impact driving ability.
      • What are some common misconceptions about impaired driving?
      • Having a plan – what to do if you find yourself needing a safe ride home.
      • Discuss changes you can make as young drivers to break the deadly cycle of impaired driving crashes.
      • Challenge your peers to pledge to never drive impaired and to speak up when they see others driving impaired or riding with someone who is. Remember – not everyone is doing it.
      • Ask why they may think impaired driving car crashes go up after 18 years of age to age 25.
  3. References:
    • https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fmotorvehiclesafety%2Fteen_drivers%2Fteendrivers_factsheet.html
    • https://tti.tamu.edu/researcher/changing-our-mindset-tti-research-reveals-a-disconnect-between-belief-and-behavior-in-teen-drivers/
    • https://www.responsibility.org/alcohol-statistics/underage-drinking-statistics
    • https://asklistenlearn.org/
    • https://www.madd.org/the-solution/teen-drinking-prevention
    • https://txsdy.org/
    • https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/does-marijuana-use-affect-driving
    • https://www.teendriversource.org/teen-crash-risks-prevention/rules-of-the-road/impaired-driving
  4. Post photos of your group discussion on your social media channels to further promote the message of safe driving and tag @teensdriverseat so we can see your great work, too.
  5. Submit an online activity form to get credit for your efforts.

Don’t Forget

The goal of this activity is to have an easy-to-manage but educational conversation to help you and your peers learn more about the impact impairment has on car crashes and to begin a dialogue on ways to speak up for your safety.

Create a safe and welcoming space for this dialogue. Some ideas to do this are: sit in a circle so everyone can see everybody; take a minute to allow everyone to be present in the room and ask that people respect that what is shared won’t leave this room; and remind people there is no judgment.

 Make it GREAT

  • Not everyone likes to speak up in groups, so ask people to write down their thoughts as well to reflect on later.
  • Check out the Speak (C)up! Not Everyone is Doing It activity
  • Post the Not Everyone is Doing It video on your school or group’s social media pages or consider creating your own version to share.
  • Challenge your peers to pledge to never drive impaired using our Promise ZERO.O resources.
  • Ask other organizations/clubs on your campus if your TDS team can come to a meeting and use this discussion guide to talk to their members about impaired driving, too.
  • Utilize your TDS kit and resources, such as posters, yard signs, etc. to reinforce messaging.

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Article by Andrea Chacon / Activity Categories, High School Activities, Impaired Activity, Junior High Activities Leave a Comment

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More Ways for Teens to Be Involved

  • Teen Advisory Board
  • Extra Mile! Senior Activity
  • You in the Driver Seat Safe Driving App
  • Teen of the Month
  • Driving the Message Poster & Video Contest
  • Take the Pledge to Keep Our Drive Alive
  • Safe Driving Summit

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