The UT Police Department has received grant funding from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office to support alcohol abuse prevention education and programming to reduce-alcohol related incidents on campus.
The Alcohol Education grant focuses on educating the campus community on the risks associated with drinking and how it impacts highway safety. Educational elements funded by the grant include the purchase of six pairs of Fatal Vision® Goggles. These goggles are used extensively in community programming, to raise awareness about how alcohol use can impair vision and depth perception, and cause double vision. The goggles are commonly used in conjunction with a video game system to simulate how alcohol affects driving abilities and reaction time.
Campus groups that wish to request educational programming from the police department can find information on the UTPD website.
“The Governor’s Highway Safety Office has given our department an excellent opportunity to continue efficient programming to educate our community on the dangers of driving impaired,” said UTPD Chief Troy Lane.
The grant period runs from October 2013 through September 2014. The UT Police Community Relations Unit is currently using the grant-funded equipment in its programming and receiving positive feedback from the community.
Beginning next Friday, the department also will begin supporting the Governor’s Highway Safety Office’s Seatbelts Are for Everyone (SAFE) campaign, aimed at increasing seatbelt usage across the state. UTPD will be working in conjunction with the Knoxville Police Department to provide campus programming to encourage seatbelt use.
—
C O N T A C T :
Sgt. Cedric Roach (865-974-3114, croach7@utk.edu)
Jillian Paciello (865-974-1313, jpaciell@utk.edu)