PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Historically, the greater Houston area, including Harris County, has reported one of the highest rates in Texas (approximately 44 percent) of motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol- and other drug-impaired drivers. This translates to one person killed every seven hours and 29 minutes as a result of these crashes.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In an effort to reduce deaths and injuries involving impaired drivers in the Houston area, the Houston Lights On For Life Coalition was conceived in 1994. Its objectives were to:

• Create a coalition which would address the problem directly
• Increase public awareness of the issues associated with impaired driving

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Houston District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) formed a unique partnership with an outdoor advertising company in Houston to help develop a coalition of community leaders, elected officials, and business leaders that would focus attention and activities on the problems of alcohol- and drug-related motor vehicle crashes in the Houston area. This Houston Lights On For Life Coalition included TxDOT, the American Automobile Association (AAA), the Pepsi Cola Company, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Houston Automobile Dealers Association, the Houston Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and Houston Crackdown (a substance abuse prevention program).

The Houston Lights On For Life Coalition launched a public awareness campaign designed to prompt motorists not to drink and drive, using the "Lights On For Life" theme. The campaign featured many high-profile activities such as:

• A lapel pin designed in the shape of a car with flashing headlights for key community leaders and media representatives to wear
• A press conference sponsored by Houston on the steps of City Hall, hosted by the Mayor, three City Council members, representatives from each of the Coalition's member agencies, and victims of drunk driving crashes. One of the victims present was Tejano singing star and area celebrity, Little Joe, who performed for the audience. The Mayor unveiled plans for a Lights On For Life campaign and presented a proclamation to the Coalition designating the month of December as Lights On For Life/Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Awareness Month
• The advertising company designed billboards in Spanish and English, and displayed the billboard messages in 70 locations throughout the state
• Broadcast and print public service announcements for Lights On For Life were distributed to all media outlets, and Coalition members made over 50 television and radio appearances throughout the designated month
• The Coalition, led by AAA, conducted a "Mocktail Mix-Off" contest among area bartenders, media, and universities, whereby participants vied for the best non-alcoholic drink recipe. AAA also sponsored "Operation Tipsy Tow," a free ride/free tow program, operated throughout the designated month. All Coalition members participated in MADD's annual Candlelight Vigil as a kickoff to the Lights On For Life campaign on December 1
• Area law enforcement agencies supported the Coalition's activities and conducted extra impaired driving enforcement and saturation patrols
  

RESULTS The Lights On For Life Coalition has sponsored activities each year since its inception. During 1995, Houston Police Department statistics indicated a 22 percent drop in impaired driving arrests from the previous year—a fact the department attributes to increased community awareness of the problem and increased traffic patrols.

FUNDING   Section 402: $7,500   In-kind contributions:   $56,740 CONTACT     Sharon Johnson Lights On For Life Coalition Texas Department of Transportation Houston District P.O. Box 1386 Houston, TX 77087 (713) 802–5177