Campaign to Prevent Drinking and Driving Kicks Off in Clemson

A recent survey of students Clemson University revealed that 29% of students surveyed said they had driven drunk at least one time in during the week in which they were surveyed. Thursday night several student organizations will kick off a campaign to keep their friends from drinking and getting behind the wheel. As part of the "Think Ahead" campaign, from 11 p.m. To 2 a.m.students will hand out wallet-sized cards with the bus schedule and numbers for taxi cab services.

As student Rickie Taylor awaits trial on DUI charges stemming from an accident in February 2008, he says he wishes he had made different decisions that night. "Knowing the things I know now I probably would have gone out and tried to steer someone else away from drinking and driving, because I know that I almost lost my life in the car accident as well as someone else's.," says the 23-year-old who still suffers back pain from the accident. He will join EMpower Clemson, the Clemson Community Coalition and Clemson University Undergraduate Student Government as they team up to offer the free pizza and information cards to students in downtown Clemson tonight.

Michael Lussier, Chairman of EMpower Clemson, says, "It's a lot bigger picture than you just drinking and driving and getting home. It puts everything you've worked for, everything your family has worked for, and everything your friends for at risk, and people you don't even know."

From Clemson:

Clemson students try to curb drinking and driving with Think Ahead campaign
CLEMSON - EMpower Clemson, the Clemson Community Coalition and Clemson University Undergraduate Student Government are teaming up against drinking and driving and encouraging students to "Think Ahead" with a new campaign to raise awareness of transportation options in downtown Clemson.

The campaign will kick off Thursday, April 16, as students will pass out information cards in downtown Clemson from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. The wallet-sized cards will have information on safe transportation options, including Clemson Area Transit and two local cab companies - Rochester Cab and YellowCab. The cards have information on bus routes, cab fares and contact information. The cards also have information on the importance of designating a driver, encouraging students to think ahead when planning a night out.

"This campaign will allow all students and community members the ability to effectively use all the resources that Clemson has to offer and ensure that students know that there is always an alternative to drinking and driving," said Michael Lussier, a sophomore from Summerville majoring in civil engineering and chair of EMpower Clemson's student advisory board.

Reducing drunk driving is just one piece of the puzzle to making Clemson a safer place, said EMpower Clemson director Kathy Cauthen.

"Think Ahead will go hand-in-hand with our continued efforts to curb underage drinking, educate students about making low-risk choices and offer alternative events," Cauthen said.

The idea from the campaign came out of a student-led community needs assessment conducted last year by the Clemson Community Coalition. The assessment gave an overall picture of the alcohol and safety-related needs of students living off campus as well as community residents. Transportation was highlighted in the assessment as a major area of need in the community, especially in the downtown Clemson area.

"After Thursday night, we hope to continue this program," said J.T. Clark, outgoing student body vice president and a senior landscape architecture major from Florence. "Mainly, we want to improve all forms of alternative transportation in order to give students the best chance at having fun and being safe. We will keep students informed of improvements to the current transportation and promote their use throughout the year."