Solano FNL join chapters across the State of California in an effort to develop and implement groundbreaking projects, programs, and campaigns targeting the number 1 killer of youth in America - traffic crashes.

 

The California Friday Night Live Partnership (CFNLP), Allstate Foundation, and the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) work collectively with law enforcement, community allies, and youth to make positive change in communities throughout the state.

 

In Solano County, there are currently 3 chapters working on positive social norms campaigns to help prevent underage drinking. Positive Social Norms - focuses on what the majority of youth are doing, which is NOT drinking and driving. Projects include the development of adult targeted printed media (flyer, poster, door hanger, etc.), youth-targeted posters and digital graphics (social media posts), one campaign public service announcement (PSA), a social media challenge for youth (or digital pledge), and a news release to the community. To see the progress of the 2022-23 OTS projects check out the FNL Chapter pages or follow Solano FNL on Instagram and/or on Facebook @SolanoFNL.

Every year FNL students across the state participate in Roadwatch. Student pick an intersection near campus, observe and record all instances of distracted driving. The data is then submitted to CFNLP and disseminated to various news outlets. Roadwatch is designed to raise awareness about the extraordinary abundance of distracted driving, while encouraging the public to improve traffic safety, not just around our schools but throughout the community.

 

National Teen Driver Safety Week, takes place in October. FNL students use data compiled from Roadwatch to help shape their awareness campaigns promoting safe driving practices. Many chapters have partnered with Impact Teen Drivers to provide educational assemblies and presentations on campus, others have developed poster and social media campaigns.

In the US, car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, with an underage drinking driver involved approximately 25%. Friday Night Live was founded in 1984, with the goal of providing a safe and sober place for teens to hangout on Friday nights. Why? Because it was the most deadly night for teens to be on the road.

 

 

To be a responsible driver is simple - if you are drinking do not drive!

 

 

The majority of teens do NOT drink and drive. In fact, 9 out of 10 teens do not drink and drive.

 

In memory of Casey Goodwin, an advocate and active FNLer, who's life was cut short. Casey was killed by a teenage drunk driver, while she was driving home from college to visit family, she was only 20 years old. Casey's Pledge encourages young people to commit to not drink and drive not get in the car with a driver who has been drinking, or be alcohol free.

TRACE is a protocol in which first responders to alcohol-related emergencies involving young people under the age of 21 results in serious bodily injury and/or death; or anyone charged with vehicular manslaughter under the influence of alcohol (regardless of age) notify the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to investigate.

 

Established in 2004, after Casey Goodwin was killed in a head-on crash by an 18 years old who had been driving drunk. How did an 18 year-old get alcohol, when they are not of legal age to buy or consume? Questions like this from Casey's family helped spear the TRACE protocol, and officers with ABC are continuing this work today.