WSSU Hosts Safe Driving Event to Honor Student

Winston-Salem State University partnered with the Picasso Keaton Foundation to promote drunk driving awareness on campus.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Scholarships

WSSU Hosts Safe Driving Event to Honor Student

Winston-Salem State University held a campus-wide safe driving event this week to honor student-athlete Picasso Keaton. The initiative featured a message from Keaton’s mother and promoted the Ram Safe program to encourage responsible decision-making.

Why it matters

The event serves as a platform to prevent future tragedies by increasing student awareness regarding the dangers of drunk driving. It also keeps focus on legislative efforts aimed at addressing impaired driving in the state.

The event centers on North Carolina House Bill 789, which passed the state House in May 2025. The legislation remains under review within the Rules and Operations of the Senate Committee.

The players

Winston-Salem State University

This public historically Black university is located in Winston-Salem and serves as a major educational institution in the region.

Picasso Keaton Foundation

This organization was established to honor the life of a former student-athlete and advocates for improved driving safety awareness.

The details

The collaboration with the Picasso Keaton Foundation utilized the Ram Safe - Safe Rides program to deliver its core safety message to students. The program aims to curb impaired driving incidents through community-focused education and resources.

Picasso Keaton was killed by a drunk driver in July 2024.
House Bill 789 passed the state House in May 2025.
Winston-Salem State University hosted the safe driving event in October 2026.

Culture Shift

This initiative follows a pattern set by community advocacy groups that use campus events to urge progress on North Carolina House Bill 789. The effort reflects a broader shift toward integrating student-led safety awareness into state-level legislative campaigns.

Residents and students can utilize the Ram Safe - Safe Rides program to ensure secure transportation after social gatherings. The event encourages attendees to adopt proactive planning to avoid impaired driving situations in the Winston-Salem area.

The takeaway

Students are encouraged to prioritize safe transit options such as the Ram Safe program when traveling off campus. Implementing consistent safety planning is a vital step in preventing avoidable accidents within the community.