Social drinking network: Facebook application allows users to appoint designated drivers for night out
Three universities in Texas are helping the Texas Department of Transportation pilot a new Facebook-integrated app used to appoint designated drivers for events before social outings.
Of the 7,096 motor vehicles accidents in Texas involving people 18-24 under the influence of alcohol, there were 2,181 serious injuries and 231 deaths, according to an Aug. 22 TxDOT news release.
The app is called Person Appointed to Stay Sober. Users log into the app, create an event and invite their friends, one of whom can offer to be the driver of the night by RSVPing “yes” to the event, according to the app’s website.
If no one offers to be the P.A.S.S. for the occasion, the app sends an email to the user 15 minutes before the event begins. The app lets passengers pay drivers for gas money. Potential P.A.S.S. drivers submit their recommended donation amount and car occupancy.
“It is well known that college life often includes some events that involve drinking,” said Phil Wilson, TxDOT executive director, in the release. “In those situations, we hope this app will encourage college students to leave the driving to someone who has not been drinking. Crashes related to alcohol are entirely preventable and we feel this new technology offers yet another option to curb drunk driving.”
The app will be a one-year test run to search for adjustments that can be made to improve the program and make it more user-friendly, said Becky Ozuna, a TxDOT spokeswoman. TxDOT is currently in the process of developing versions available through Apple’s App Store and Google Play. For now, the mobile-friendly app Web page can be found at www.thepassapp.com.
The University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Brownsville and Midwestern State University were selected to test the app.
“We chose three different schools that were geographically spread out and different in size to see how this app could work among various populations,” Ozuna said. “At the end of the school year, TxDOT is planning on administering surveys to students at each school to measure the effectiveness of the app. Depending on the results, TxDOT will then decide whether or not to expand the program.”
The University of Texas at Brownsville has trained students to talk about the P.A.S.S. app and passed out key chains and door hangers during Welcome Week to promote the event, said Doug Stoves, assistant dean of residential life and auxiliary services at the school.
He added that the university’s Greek Council, as well as ROTC took the lead in this project to spread awareness among the student community.
“We plan on a continuous presence on campus throughout the school year to see how well the P.A.S.S. app can be integrated into the student culture,” he said.
Stoves and Ozuna both said they acknowledge that drunk driving is not exclusively a college-age problem, and expressed their hopes that the general population will use the P.A.S.S. app.
While the TxDOT is only partnering with three universities, anyone who has a Facebook account can use the P.A.S.S. app.
