Drug-Impaired Driving Prevention
SAFE receives grant funding from the Virginia DMV Highway Safety Office to reduce impaired driving crashes among 16-25 year olds in Chesterfield County. According to the VA Dept Motor Vehicles (DMV), Chesterfield County had 332 alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2021, 329 in 2022, and 356 in 2023. Of these alcohol-related crashes, the following involved 16-25 year olds: 110 (33%) in 2021, 131 (40%) in 2022 and 111 (31%) in 2023.
Drug Impaired Driving Work Group (DID)
The DID Work Group of SAFE is making a difference in Chesterfield County by educating their peers and adults in our communities about the risks of drug and alcohol related driving.
If you are not yet a member of SAFE’s DID Work Group and would like to be, please call or text 804-930-4713 or email messer@chesterfieldsafe.org.
New DID Education Resources
SAFE conducted a focus group with Chesterfield students to gain insight on behaviors and perspectives of impaired driving in Chesterfield County. In partnership with a graphic designer, two new originally designed brochures were created to educate Chesterfield youth and parents on the dangers, consequences, and prevalence of alcohol and drug impaired driving. Check out the new brochures below, and reach out to us if you are interested in obtaining copies.
SAFE DID Brochure (2023)
SAFE DID Local Data Brochure (2023)
New Media Campaign
From 2023-2024, SAFE worked with Mnemonics to create two new PSA campaigns. The first is entitled, “Unboxing the Hard Facts”, focusing on educating young adults under 21 about the Zero Tolerance Law. The second campaign is entitled, “Sober Media”, depicting a safe choice of choosing to not drive under the influence. The 2024-2025 DMV grant cycle is SAFE’s first year running these PSA campaigns.
Unboxing the Hard Facts PSA Campaign
Local DUI Data
SAFE coordinated with CCPD to obtain local drug impaired driving arrest and crash data.
From October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, a total of 1,121 DUI arrests were made. The highest months with DUI arrests were May (92), October (85), and September (78).
This includes a total of 211 female DUI arrests, with the following subsets: 79 Black, 32 Hispanic, and 100 White.
In addition, a total of 913 male DUI arrests were made, with the following subsets: 230 Black, 401 Hispanic, and 279 White.
Note, that these data numbers account for all ages.
From October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, a total of 229 DUI arrests were made among 16-25 year olds, with the highest months of arrests in September (22), May (19), and January (18).
This included a total of 37 female 16-25 year old DUI arrests, with the following subsets: 18 Black, 11 Hispanic, and 8 White.
In addition, a total of 163 male 16-25-year-old DUI arrests were made, with the following subsets: 38 Black, 81 Hispanic, and 43 White.
This data shows a total 51.3% decrease in female and 50.9% decrease in male 16-25 year old DUI arrests. Additionally, this data shows a 42.7% decrease in White male and a 78.4% decrease in White female 16-25 year old DUI arrests.
“Before You Take It To-Go, Here Are Some Things You Should Know” Brochure
SAFE has partnered with Chesterfield County Police Department to host annual Establishment Brochure Initiative in which an alcohol-impaired driving prevention brochure titled, “Before You Take It To-Go, Here Are Some Things You Should Know” was distributed to local establishments in Chesterfield County to include in their take-out orders. This brochure (printed in both English and Spanish) includes information about alcohol-impaired driving laws, and consequences one would face if choosing to drive while impaired. In 2024, a total of 100 English establishments accepted the brochures, distributing a total of 10,000 English brochures. In addition, 30 Spanish-speaking establishments accepted the brochures, distributing a total of 6,000 brochures.
EBI Brochure (English)
Teen Resources
VA Dept Motor Vehicles (DMV) data in Chesterfield County had 332 alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2021, 329 in 2022, and 356 in 2023. Of these alcohol-related crashes, the following involved 16-25 year olds: 110 (33%) in 2021, 131 (40%) in 2022 and 111 (31%) in 2023.
Local CCPD DUI arrest data among all ages shows a total of 1,338 arrests in 2022, 1,085 in 2023, and 850 in 2024. Among this data, the following arrests were made for 16-25 year olds, 303 (or 23%) in 2022, 209 (or 19%) in 2023, and 193 (or 23%) in 2024.
Local CCPD data shows data consisting of DUI arrests with drivers admitting to consuming a drug: 248 (16%) in 2022, 171 (19%) in 2023, and 130 (15%) in 2024.”
Designate Before You Celebrate
Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program
Students Against Drunk Driving
Virginia Cannabis Control Authority
Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety
Virginia Driver Education and Traffic Safety
Partners for Safe Teen Driving
Previously Aired PSA Campaign
In 2022, SAFE conducted a focus group session consisting of males between the ages of 16-29 years old who had previous experience with substance abuse and were part of a behavioral skills building group. Following the contributions from this focus group, SAFE worked with GMMB to create a new PSA, focusing on the participants’ thoughts regarding preventing drug-impaired driving and substance abuse. GMMB created the new “Lose” PSA in English and Spanish, both timed at 0:15 and 0:30. The 2023-2024 DMV grant cycle was SAFE’s second year running this PSA campaign. The PSA can be viewed below.