In 2006, 30 percent of high school seniors reported driving after drinking heavily or using drugs, or riding in a car whose driver had been drinking heavily or using drugs, at least once in the prior two weeks. Community coalitions can help raise awareness of this problem by getting involved in National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Month this December.

Several tools are available to help prevention leaders develop educational campaigns in their communities and to educate parents about the dangers of teen impaired driving. New tools include:

Stopdruggeddriving.org
The new Web site provides community leaders, educators, parents, law enforcement officers, lawmakers, students and media professionals research and statistics about drunk and drugged driving, as well as suggested steps to combat this problem.

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 2007 Holiday Promotional & Media Planner
The planner contains creative materials and templates (including posters and coasters) that convey both enforcement and social norming messages to deter and prevent impaired driving around the winter Holidays. It also includes earned media materials, including sample press releases, letters to the editor, op-ed pieces, fact sheets and more; and suggested promotional activities.

Tips for parents from the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
Throughout National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Month, the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign is offering parents free teen driving resources and tips to help teens avoid impaired driving. Materials, such as posters and postcards, are available. Visit www.TheAntiDrug.com.