ODU PROMOTES ROAD SAFETY ON WORLD HEALTH DAY, APRIL 7

On an average day in Hampton Roads, 48 people are injured in traffic accidents- about one person every half-hour, according to a recent study by the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. Old Dominion University will join the hundreds of local and international organizations hosting events in conjunction with World Health Day Wednesday, April 7, to raise awareness about road traffic injuries, their consequences and costs to society.

Research on red-light running, tailgating, pedestrian safety and safety belt conducted by Bryan Porter, associate professor of psychology at ODU, will be on a display from 12 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, in the North Cafeteria of Webb Center. Pictures, data and information on his various projects, from "Click It or Ticket" to "Survive the Drive," will be exhibited. His graduate students along with Vince and Larry, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's crash test dummies, will ask students to sign a pledge to drive safely-and those who do will be eligible for a raffle prize.

Student Health Services will host an interactive display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the South Mall of Webb Center on Wednesday, April 7, focusing on impaired-driving prevention. Using the international association Bacchus and Gamma Peer Education Network's theme, "That's What Friends Are For," they will encourage students to plan in advance who will serve as the designated driver and to not drive after drinking or ride in a car with a driver who has.

"Boggle goggles" will be available for students to experience the visual distortion, loss of balance and lack of coordination that make drunk drivers so dangerous. Students can also participate in role-playing games that make drunk-driving consequences more realistic.