A coalition of local groups kicked off Spring Break with a media event at the Pacific Beach Shore Club on Feb. 27 to implore celebrating students not to drink and drive, but rather to choose alternatives like designated drivers, taxis and mass transit.
Pacific Beach with its beach, boardwalk, restaurants and nightclubs, is one of the most popular party destinations for college students and young military servicemembers in Southern California, migrating here for an eight-week period that began March 1.
RADD, the entertainment industry’s voice for road safety, has partnered with local colleges, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the Navy, the California Office of Traffic Safety and Discover Pacific Beach to highlight safe partying practices and encourage revelers to “plan ahead.”
Radio announcer Jeff Krapf served as emcee for the media event.
Safety should be high on the list for any student or resident planning to spend time in popular Spring Break party spots, said SDPD Capt. Lori Luhnow.
“Last year, there were 485 DUI-related arrests in the greater San Diego area during the eight weeks of Spring Break,” Luhnow said. “This year, we’ve added 10 DUI checkpoints and nine traffic-enforcement details in an aggressive attempt to keep the roads safe.”
Students and representatives from local San Diego colleges were present at the event, hosted by the Pacific Beach Shore Club, to share their favorite tips for having fun while staying safe during the two-month Spring Break that’s known for risky behavior and particularly high DUI arrest rates.
Shore Club owner Billy Ramirez welcomed visitors to stop by and have fun during Spring Break while asking them to be responsible.
Event speakers also encouraged patrons to earn free incentives from among the 90 partnering RADD Rewards bars and restaurants in San Diego’s most popular beach and nightlife destinations by simply becoming designated drivers.
Partiers were urged to make a transportation plan prior to celebrating in the city’s many hospitality zones in order to get themselves and friends home safely.
“Take turns being the designated driver, share a taxi cab, get a room or crash on a friend’s couch. There are many options to avoid driving drunk if you make a plan ahead of time,” said Erin Dugan Meluso, President of RADD International.
Local college and university students showed their school spirit by wearing RADD crew T-shirts and school colors. Event activities included the unveiling of the long-awaited “RADD Designated Driver Reserved Parking Signs” showing Pacific Beach merchants’ commitment and dedication to road safety and RADD’s alternative transportation and designated-driver program.
Look for the RADD signs at PB Shore Club, Miller’s Field, PB Bar & Grill, Typhoon and Tavern at the Beach, among others.
For a list of safety tips from RADD, the city of San Diego and local RADD campus partners that includes road safety, alcohol consumption, sun safety, dehydration, popular social media mistakes and more, visit collegeisradd.org/tips, www.collegeisradd.org or www.OTS.ca.gov.
For a list of RADD Rewards Partners in the San Diego Area, visit collegeisradd.org/rewards-partners/san-diego-california.
