Reality Education for Drivers program seeks to reduce teen motor vehicle injuries, death

COLLEGE STATION – A Reality Education for Drivers, or RED, program led by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is providing a wake-up call for youth in the Brazos Valley area on the consequences of reckless and irresponsible driving.

“What we’re doing here is sort of a  Scared Straight version of reality for teen drivers,” said Cindy Kovar, an AgriLife Extension specialist in family development and resource management, College Station. Kovar serves as coordinator for the Brazos Valley Injury Prevention Coalition — a grant program at AgriLife Extension in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation, area businesses, hospitals, schools and other entities.

Kovar said the program, which incorporates instruction with “reality education” visits to area hospitals, attempts to steer young drivers away from risky or reckless driving behavior and reduce motor vehicle-related injuries and deaths.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic deaths are the No. 1 cause of death among 15-19 year olds. And teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes than other drivers.

In 2014, the Bryan Texas Department of Transportation District had a 9.27 percent increase from the previous year in crashes involving this age group, as compared to a 5.39 percent increase statewide.

The Reality Education for Drivers program is held at CHI St. Joseph's Regional Health System Hospital in Bryan. The program is being expanded to Burleson and counties. (Photo courtes of St. Joseph's Regional)
The Reality Education for Drivers program is held at CHI St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital in Bryan. The program is being expanded to Burleson and Walker counties. (Photo courtesy of CHI St. Joseph Health)

“This program focuses on a high-risk category of drivers ages 15 through 20 and is an educational sentencing alternative to teenagers who have been identified through the court system,” Kovar said. “These young drivers have exhibited risky or irresponsible driving behavior that has endangered either themselves or others, including speeding, non-use of seat belts, possession or consumption of alcohol when driving, or driving while impaired or distracted.

“They have been referred to the program by the district magistrate presiding over their cases as a means of intervention.”

Kovar said parental involvement is required for participants under 18. Participants are provided information and instruction related to driving under the influence, distracted driving, speeding and occupant protection. They also get a “walking tour” of certain areas of a local hospital.

“We have had nearly 300 teens go through the program in the past 18 months and our last class had 57 participants,” Kovar said. “So far, the program has been primarily in Brazos County, but we’ve recently expanded into Burleson County and this summer we plan to be in Walker County as well.”

The program takes place at CHI St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital in Bryan and has recently been expanded into CHI St. Joseph Health Burleson Hospital in Caldwell. This summer, classes also will be held at Huntsville Memorial Hospital in Walker County.

The program lasts approximately five hours and, while designed for younger drivers, is available for participants up to the age of 25, when court ordered.

“Teens and parents are expected to meet dress code qualifications that require them to attend in business type attire with clean grooming and no visible tattoos, as well as conduct themselves in a professional manner while on the premises,” Kovar said.

She said the part of the program that “really grabs the attention of the participants” is the tour of the hospital to see firsthand the facility’s emergency and critical care facilities and morgue.

“We help Cindy coordinate and host tours of the hospital emergency department, where nurses discuss the care given to motor vehicle crash victims,” said Fawn Preuss, Healthy Communities coordinator for CHI St. Joseph Health. “A registered nurse gives the participants a walking tour and explains  emergency intake and triage. They hear stories about people who have entered the hospital through the emergency department who have been injured or killed as a result of driving under the influence or distracted driving. We also show them X-rays and images of broken bones and other injuries.

“And while every patient’s health information is protected, these students get a good idea of some of the consequences of irresponsible driving. The group is then lead by hospital security down to the morgue. The participants do not see any bodies, but they get a pretty good reality check just being there.”

The hospital also offers the perspective of a social worker or grief counselor who speaks to participants about the effect their actions can have on not only individuals but their families, schools and communities.

“Many of these young people don’t realize that as a direct result of their actions they or someone else could be killed, paralyzed or disabled,” she said. “We try to get them to understand that their actions can affect individuals and entire families for years to come.”

Additional education for the participants includes class discussion about alcohol and marijuana and their effects on driving, as well as the perils of speeding, texting and driving, and other forms of distracted and impaired driving. They also hear from a local judge or officer of the court on the legal consequences of risky behavior while driving.

Preuss said the program has been so successful the hospital has agreed to allow the use of its Grant Education Center for class instruction as they now need a larger space.

“Although the program is mandated by the court and participants are usually in it as part of their court-ordered community service, I feel it would be a good idea if all drivers in this age group went through it,” she said. “Kids at this age have a tendency to believe they are invincible. The program is designed to get their attention in real-life, meaningful ways. The curriculum and approach we use makes a lasting impression.”

Kovar said while participants prefer to remain anonymous, each completes a pre- and post-class survey to measure initial driving knowledge, attitudes and behaviors plus any changes in these after going through the program.

“In the post-class survey, almost all participants state they will apply what they have learned and commit to being more attentive, not drinking or texting while driving, making better driving decisions and using their seat belts,” Kovar said.

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