Texas A&M and Texas State Univ., San Marcos Win Awards for Efforts to Reduce Drinking and Driving

AUSTIN, Texas--Oct. 1, 20036, 2003--Texas A&M University and Texas State University, San Marcos have won regional prizes of $1,000 each in a competition against other universities in western states to develop and implement programs to prevent student drinking and driving and alcohol abuse. This year, four universities from the program's six-state region were awarded a total of $8,000. The region consists of Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, California and Hawaii.

Texas A&M's program for 2002-2003 was "The Choice is Up to You. Make Responsible Decisions." The campaign, which began in Spring 2002, included alcohol and drug education programs, increased interaction with student organizations through presentations and training, incorporation of technology to enhance programmatic and educational efforts and development of partnerships with the Bryan/College Station community to combat substance abuse. Texas A&M previously earned awards for its efforts to reduce drinking and driving in 2001 and 1998.

"The Texas A&M program is particularly successful because of its broad scope, which included student training, production of anti-drinking and driving television commercials and community outreach," said Steven Bloch, Ph.D., coordinator of the College and University Drinking and Driving Prevention Awards Program for the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Texas State University, San Marcos won a regional award for its program called Southwest Alternative Transportation (SWAT). In 2000, the university -- known as a party school -- commissioned a survey that found 60 percent of Texas State University students had driven after drinking. The SWAT program provided a safe and reliable service, free of charge, to university students within the San Marcos community who were intoxicated and/or to students unable to drive due to other circumstances. The service was one-way to the student's home.

"The program at Texas State University, San Marcos stands out for its success in developing a large and successful program despite a limited budget," Bloch said.

The grand prize of $5,000 was awarded to the University of California, Santa Barbara. The other regional award was presented to the University of Nevada, Reno.

The Texas College and University Drinking and Driving Prevention Awards program is a joint program of AAA Texas and the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention. The Automobile Club of Southern California, AAA Northern California, AAA New Mexico, AAA Hawaii, AAA Utah and AAA Nevada also participate.

AAA Texas, LLC, an affiliate of the AAA, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance, travel agency, insurance, financial products, automotive products, trip planning services and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.