Transportation researchers heading into high schools with safe-driving education tools
A state Office of Traffic Safety grant for 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 STAR Lab will show teens the dangers of alcohol impairment behind the wheel.
麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 has received a $70,000 grant from the (OTS) to launch Sober Choices, Safer Roads, a project to educate high school students about the risks of alcohol-impaired driving.
Launching in spring 2026, the College of Engineering project uses interactive demonstrations to show how impairment affects reaction time, motor skills and decision-making.
shows motor vehicle crashes remain one of the leading causes of death for U.S. teens, and alcohol-impaired driving increases risk to serious and fatal incidents among young drivers. To help address this risk, STAR Lab researchers will develop, implement and evaluate a curriculum grounded in evidence-based practices and designed to meet students where they are, raise awareness and encourage safer, more informed choices.
鈥淭his early educational program aims to reduce impaired driving and create lasting change among high school students and the broader community,鈥� said principal investigator Sahar Ghanipoor Machiani.
Partnering with high schools in National City and Chula Vista, the STAR Lab team will collaborate with communities that face higher risk and have historically experienced elevated rates of alcohol-related crashes. The project reflects 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 ongoing commitment to research-oriented and educational outreach that addresses community needs and makes a positive impact.
As part of the curriculum, students will participate in hands-on demonstrations that illustrate how impairment influences motor skills, judgment and driving performance. Lessons will incorporate , which simulate different levels of impairment, allowing students to experience firsthand how tasks become harder under impaired conditions.
Funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety supports statewide efforts to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities caused by impaired driving through education, research and community-based programming. It stems from the notion that every decision a young driver makes can have a ripple effect throughout the community.
鈥淓ducating young drivers early is one of the most effective ways to build lifelong safe driving habits,鈥� said OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty. 鈥淭his initiative reflects our commitment to prevention through education and building a culture of safety that starts with our youth.鈥� Sober Choices, Safer Roads is a commitment to safer streets and communities across San Diego County.
The project is led by principal investigator Ghanipoor Machiani and co-principal investigator Arash Jahangiri, both associate professors in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering.
Funding for this project is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
