HPD's Project Drive Puts Brakes on Teen Impaired Driving

Teen drivers comprise of just over 5% of Alaska’s licensed drivers, yet they typically make up over 20% of total motor vehicle fatalities and 30% of major injuries. 17% of fatal and major injury crashes involved an alcohol impaired teen driver.

In an effort to put the brakes on these sobering statistics, the City of Homer Police Department began Project Drive, an educational clinic that puts youth in the driver’s seat -- of a specially designed go-cart while wearing fatal vision goggles that simulate blood alcohol contents varying from .07 to .25+ and either day or night conditions -- to learn first-hand the effects of drinking and driving. 

Since beginning, Project Drive has grown from supplementing health curriculum at Homer High School to a stand-alone program with its own curriculum that reaches out to youth from all schools on the southern Kenai Peninsula.  The results we are seeing are impressive.  The annual average number of Minor Consuming Alcohol arrests have declined from 16 to 5.8, and the annual average number of minors being charged with operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol has gone down from 7.8 to 3.2.  During this same time frame, the average annual number of DUI arrests declined from 102.6 to 75.8.  

Grant support from the Alaska Highway Safety Office has greatly contributed to the program’s success.  Funds have allowed HPD to acquire their own side-by-side UTV, a transport trailer and safety equipment to be able to offer program benefits to other schools on the southern Kenai Peninsula.  The program's popularity has spread statewide with requests to present clinics at events like the State Youth Court Conference, West High School’s Medical Academy in Anchorage and a Palmer-Wasilla Town Hall Meeting.  

The Alaska Highway Safety Office continued its strong support of the program this year, granting $39,488 to the department to encourage program continuation and expansion.  Their support also covers added personnel costs associated with expand program.

HPD is committed to working collaboratively with local and surrounding area schools, youth groups, and other agencies, in an effort to keep these positive changes happening.  Sgt. Browning, one of the program instructors describes the program.  “Not only do we get to show teens first-hand the dangers of driving while impaired while in a safe environment, we get to build positive relationships with the kids and there is no greater measure than that.  We believe in this program and its outcome.  Our take home message is we know we can’t stop kids from drinking….that’s a choice they will make for themselves at some point in their lives, but what we can do is hit home the message that if they make that choice, to please, please stay out of a vehicle.”

Kudos to Homer Police Department for creating this life-saving program and for their commitment of the extra overtime necessary to share it with our youth.  Thanks also to the Alaska Highway Safety Office for their valuable contribution to share the lesson more widely.