GRAMBLING, La. (AP) — State officials, campus leaders and students will gather today at Grambling State University to launch an “Arrive Alive” transportation safety campaign aimed at discouraging impaired driving and increasing seat belt use among college students.
The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the Favrot Student Union on campus and is being organized by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, UMOJA Inc., and the university.
Officials said the initiative is designed to provide transportation safety education throughout the school year while encouraging students to make responsible choices behind the wheel.
Speakers are expected to include representatives from the highway safety commission, Louisiana State Police Troop F, Grambling State administrators, campus police, student leaders and community partners.
As part of the campaign, students recently participated in a video collaboration to create public service announcements focused on transportation safety. Organizers said the student-produced videos highlight the consequences of unsafe driving behaviors and stress the importance of sober, distraction-free driving and regular seat belt use.
The videos are expected to be shared through campus platforms, social media and community outlets to broaden the campaign’s reach beyond the university.
Organizers said the program is intended to be more than a one-day event, combining student engagement, campus partnerships and community outreach to reinforce safe driving habits year-round.
Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional death for people ages 15 to 24 in the United States, according to campaign organizers.
Data from the LSU Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety show that from 2023 through 2025, Louisiana recorded 511 fatalities and 3,083 suspected serious injuries involving people in that age group.
In northeast Louisiana, officials said there were 46 fatalities and 207 suspected serious injuries during the same period, accounting for 13% of statewide fatalities and 19% of serious injuries. Lincoln Parish was listed among the affected areas.
“This campaign is about empowering young people to take ownership of their safety and the safety of their peers,” Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman said in a statement.
“By engaging students to create these messages, we’re not only raising awareness — we’re building a culture of responsibility where making smart, sober decisions behind the wheel becomes the norm.”
Organizers said the campaign’s message to students is simple: make smart choices, look out for one another and always arrive alive.
