Kennesaw Gets Grant To Improve Young Adult Driving, Reduce Wrecks

KENNESAW, GA — Kennesaw State University’s Office of Health Promotion and Wellness recently received a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety totaling more than $18,000 to participate in the Georgia Young Adult Program. Developed by Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the program partners with colleges and universities throughout the state to address young adult driver crashes, injuries and fatalities.

The Georgia Young Adult 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 crashes in their communities. The grant is the 13th award for Kennesaw’s Health Promotion and Wellness, which resides in the University’s Division of Student Affairs.

“The loss of one life on our roads is one too many, and the fact almost all fatal traffic crashes can be prevented is one reason why we are awarding this grant,” said Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Allen Poole. “The target of zero traffic deaths in our nation is achievable, and we will continue to help develop and implement educational messages, enforcement campaigns, and other safety initiatives aimed at bringing us one step closer to our goal.”

Kennesaw’s Office of Health Promotion and Wellness will coordinate events such as impaired driving prevention programs, including social norming promotion. TIPS University Training, a skills-based training program, will also be provided to help students learn specific strategies and skills for intervening in alcohol-related situations that they may encounter. Programming will surround events such as National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week and Safe Spring Break, and involve collaborations with the campus Greek community, residential student communities, campus police, and counseling services.

The grant runs through Sept. 30, 2020.