Drunk DIAL! an evidence-informed program to reduce alcohol-related vehicle mortality among university students

In the U.S., alcohol-related vehicle fatalities are the second leading cause of death among university students, ages 18-24. Current literature supports that college-aged students are now binge drinking more often and driving under the influence of alcohol more frequently than in the past. At our University, Alert Cab is a taxi service from which students can get a ride from a bar to their home for only the cost of the cab driver's tip. However, it was discovered that students are largely unaware of this service, translating to low usage rates. The purpose of this study was to employ the Precede/Proceed model to develop an evidence-informed, theory-based, multilevel program called “DRUNK DIAL!” to reduce the number of students who get into a car with a driver who has been drinking and ultimately decrease the rates of alcohol-related vehicle mortality in our community. Program strategies include: developing partnerships with local bars to promote the Alert Cab Service, working with the campus police to increase DUI checkpoints to deter student drinking and driving, increasing Alert Cab operating hours, and developing a diverse social marketing campaign for our priority population on and off campus. The University's Wellness Committee has determined that this program would be beneficial to the student population and will facilitate its implementation during the summer of 2013. Currently, the program developers are continuing this student-driven innovation by designing the process evaluation for “DRUNK DIAL!” through their subsequent coursework in Evaluation Methods.