Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Philip Crowson - The Battalion An accident rollover is simulated Monday afternoon in Rudder Plaza. The rollover displayed the benefits of wearing a seatbelt and the results of not buckling up. The demonstration was started by the University Police Department. [Click to enlarge]

Construction hazards on the roads in College Station and the diverse driving styles of students attending Texas A&M have combined to create a dangerous town to drive in.

Master Officer Kristi Hosea of the University Police Department said College Station is known for poor driving.

"This town is so notorious for running red lights and stop signs. We all know that in College Station when the light turns green it doesn't mean go. It means wait a second and see if anyone is running a red light before you go. And that is defensive driving," Hosea said.

The first week in October is Drive Safely Work Week, or for college students, drive safely to campus week. The campaign is a national awareness week aimed toward improving the safety practices of those that drive to work. This year's theme is "Avoid High Risk Driving Mistakes. Take Charge of YOUR Driving Behavior. Reduce YOUR Crash Risk."

The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, NETS, sponsors the campaign every year and is celebrating its 11th year of the campaign. NETS teams up every year with public and private sector employers, health and safety organizations and local, state and federal agencies to promote a commitment to help reduce death tolls and injuries in the driving workforce.

On Monday, Hosea demonstrated at Rudder Plaza what a car rolling over does to a body with and without a seatbelt with her "Rollover Convincer." The Rollover Convincer is a model of the front of a pick-up truck and demonstrates a 20 to 30 miles an hour rollover.

"If you go around the circle in front of the Administration Building and clip that curb just right, even a car will flip over," Hosea said.

The week is being used to emphasize the need to slow down and take precautions on the way to work, school or anywhere people may travel to.

"Too many people get into too much of a hurry: they are multitasking in the car, talking on their cell phone or stuff[ing] down lunch before they get where they are going, doing too many things at once, not paying attention, going too fast; everyone is in a hurry and everyone is late. Slow down and leave early. We all just need to pay a little more attention while we are driving," Hosea said.

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