Picture this: it’s a typical Saturday night. The weather is cold, and you and your friends are waiting in the Traveller (Trav) line. You, along with many others, are stuck in the back of the line, waiting for what seems like forever. Time passes, and you still are not at the front, so you and your friends decide to get a ride from someone who appears sober, not knowing that they have been drinking too. Such a story is a common narrative for a typical night out. A seemingly innocent act that could turn fatal at any moment.
Trav was initially implemented to help prevent drunk driving at Washington and Lee. On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, Trav picks up and drops off students at various locations in Lexington within a five-mile radius of the university.
The effects of drunk driving have personally affected the university. In December 2013, a student, Kelsey Durkin, tragically passed away in a drunk-driving accident. In response, the Promise Committee was founded to raise awareness of the dangers and risks of driving under the influence, according to previous reporting by the Phi.
The university also has a “safe haven” policy, which ensures that students who seek medical care for excessive intoxication will not face disciplinary action, according to the university website. By implementing such policies and continuing the Trav service, the university does not downplay the presence of drinking in students’ social lives.
From what I’ve seen, drinking culture is reinforced by the large percentage of participation in Greek life at the university, which relies heavily on the party scene. According to the university website, 72% of students join fraternities and sororities.
Despite the presence of programs like Trav, drunk driving is still a prevalent issue. According to the Lexington Police Department website, the city charged 10 people with driving under the influence in 2024.
It’s unclear how many were associated with the university, but students say they are aware of people who may be drunk driving, even if “nothing happens.”
Even if someone appears sober, you should not choose to ride with someone else unless you can confirm that the individual was sober throughout the night. Long wait times may feel annoying at the moment, but using Trav could save not only your own life, but everyone else’s lives.
Trav’s mission is to offset drunk driving, but the system is not perfect, even twelve years after Kelsey Durkin’s death. The Promise Committee and the administration work hard to ensure student safety, but is it enough? No.
Despite drunk driving still posing a problem for the community, Trav’s role in reducing drunk driving remains significant. Expanding the Trav program, enhancing Lexington traffic watches on nights out, continuing to educate students on the dangers of drunk driving and monitoring peers will all help to eliminate drunk driving. Trav’s mission, while effective, has not been completely accomplished.
