Preventing Collegiate Impaired Road Use: A Holistic and Student-Inclusive Approach

This session will explore the critical issue of impaired road use among college students and its implications for overall student health and safety. Presenters Liz Branham and Paige Carter from HECAOD’s traffic safety team will share insights into behavioral trends, including impaired use of bikes, scooters, and skateboards, to shed light on the broader context of traffic safety on campus. Participants will be guided to identify key risk areas in their campus environments and discuss how these factors may increase the likelihood of traffic-related injuries or fatalities. The session will conclude with actionable strategies for addressing these challenges, emphasizing data collection and student involvement in impaired road use prevention through focus groups, assessment activities, and campus safety feedback.

Learning Objectives

• Assess how campus environments may contribute to risks associated with impaired road use, risky traffic behaviors, injuries, crashes, and fatalities. 
• Explore how traffic safety and impaired road use prevention initiatives align with the roles and responsibilities of health educators and wellness professionals.  
• Identify actionable strategies for integrating traffic safety work into campus wellness initiatives, including how impaired road use data can engage students as active contributors to prevention efforts.