8 May 2023, Guadalajara, Mexico – UNITAR launched the Autosobriety Training Programme to Prevent Drink-Driving in the state of Jalisco in Mexico with the support of CIFAL Mérida, Fundación de Investigaciones Sociales (FISAC) and the Secretary of Public Security of the State of Jalisco (SSP).

The event was jointly hosted in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, with both in-person and online attendees, including the participation of the directors from the Secretariat of Public Security of the State of Yucatan, Mexico, the National Transit Agency of Ecuador, CIFAL Ecuador, CIFAL Mérida, the Road Safety Commissioner of the State of Jalisco, Mexico, and other local partners.

This is a very significant step as it is the first country in which the programme has expanded from one state (Yucatan) to another (Jalisco). The expansion demonstrates the success of the programme in Yucatan and the potential impact it can have in other states. Directors of CIFAL Merida and CIFAL Ecuador have shared their experiences in implementing Autosobriety in Yucatan and the provinces of Ecuador, respectively. This provided valuable insights into the challenges and successes of implementing the programme and will help to ensure that the programme in Jalisco is successful.

Mexico is facing a severe road safety crisis with staggering statistics ranking the country seventh worldwide and third in the Latin American region with the most deaths from road crashes (CAPUFE 2022). In 2021, Jalisco, one of Mexico's largest states, was ranked third in the national ranking of crashes, with a staggering 12,986 crashes reported. Additionally, drunk driving is the leading cause of road traffic fatalities among people aged 20–39 years (INEGI, 2021). 

To contribute to tackling this issue, the Autosobriety Training Programme to Prevent Drink-Driving will be disseminated through various training workshops, awareness-raising campaigns, and through its educational tools including an online training course, a 360-degree video to experience the effects of alcohol in driving performance through Virtual Reality, and a microlearning course available through EdApp.

The launch of Autosobriety in Jalisco is an important step towards reducing the number of road traffic crashes caused by drink-driving. By promoting a culture of responsible drinking and raising awareness about the dangers of drink-driving, the programme is expected to make a significant impact on road safety in the state. 

The partnership between UNITAR, CIFAL Mérida, FISAC, and SSP demonstrates the importance of collaboration in addressing road safety issues. By working together, all partners will be able to leverage their expertise and resources to conduct effective training workshops and training activities related to Autosobriety which will have the potential to have a positive impact in reducing crashes related to alcohol.