Texas transportation officials are advising students and others to drive responsibly during spring break in an effort to reduce fatalities and serious crashes throughout the state. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were more than 870 DUI-related traffic crashes during last year鈥檚 spring break. Those incidents resulted in 30 deaths and 107 serious injuries.
Danny Perez, a spokesperson for TxDOT in Houston, said his agency is asking anyone of driving age to be careful, especially high school and college students.
鈥淲e have folks that are going out to the beach, going to Galveston for example, and that鈥檚 where our concerns are with folks who are taking those long drives,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really anybody who gets behind the wheel after drinking.鈥�
Throughout this month, TxDOT will have outreach events as part of its 鈥淒rive Sober. No Regrets.鈥� campaign at key spring break destinations across Texas that are popular among college students. Perez said this is a crucial time to get their message out, now that more people are getting out of the house and traveling.
鈥淓specially with COVID and with winter, people were not out as much, and now with spring coming in, the temperature is starting to warm up a bit and folks are starting to get out more,鈥� said Perez. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to the beach and they鈥檙e going to events, and what happens is when they include alcohol, they many times don鈥檛 include a plan to get home safely.鈥�
That鈥檚 why Perez said planning for what he calls 鈥渁 sober ride鈥� home is important. He recommends public transit, a rideshare service, or a designated sober driver.
鈥淎nd a sober person is not the person who鈥檚 had the least amount to drink, but the person who has not had anything to drink at all,鈥� he added.
Last week, TxDOT held outreach events in San Antonio, Arlington, and Austin. This week, there will be in Houston and South Padre Island.
Their campaign includes a, featuring testimony of Texans who have dealt with the consequences of drunk driving.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping these real-life stories show students that deadly consequences can and do happen every year during spring break,鈥� said TxDOT executive director Marc Williams in a statement announcing the campaign.
More information can be found at.