Recorded presentation

Joyce Chung, MPH, PhD and Christina Oshinsky, MPH. Traffic Safe Communities Network in Santa Clara County, Santa Clara County Public Health Department, 770 S. Bascom Ave., San Jose, CA 95128, 408-423-0738, joyce.chung@hhs.co.scl.ca.us

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury and death for 15-19 year olds - with alcohol being the primary collision factor. In Santa Clara County, CA (2001), there were 146 crashes and 551 DUI (driving under the influence) arrests involving drivers under 21 who had been drinking alcohol. The Traffic Safe Communities Network (TSCN), a community partnership led by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, developed the “DUI Court in Schools” project to address underage drinking and impaired driving. This project brings real-life DUI trials to high school campuses to educate students of dangers and consequences of drinking and driving. With support from schools and courts, 13 DUI trials have been conducted. The trial includes the legal arguments, judge’s verdict, a scientific presentation of the results of alcohol that contribute to impaired driving, and classroom materials. A pre- and post- survey was developed to ascertain changes in the students’ knowledge and attitudes related to drinking and driving. The results of 1,552 student surveys were analyzed. The preliminary results show that there was a 9.2% increase in students that indicated they would not get into a car with a driver who had been drinking. At baseline, 90.3% of students said they would not drive after drinking; this increased by 2.4%. Most students (84.1%) reported they had never participated in an alcohol/substance abuse prevention program. The evaluation of this program has demonstrated that the “DUI Court” program increases students’ knowledge of the consequences of drinking and driving, and reduces the likelihood of students’ riding/driving while drunk.

Learning Objectives: Learning objectives

Participants will be able to (
• recognize the need to address the problem of underage drinking and impaired driving in the field of injury control and prevention, (
• describe the goals of conducting a real-life DUI trial in front of high school students, (
• develop a survey evaluation tool to measure changes of students’ knowledge and attitudes towards drinking and driving due to the program.

Keywords: Injury Prevention, Evaluation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation