“We talk about how overrepresented they are when it comes to fatalities on our roadways,” Finkel said.
She emphasized that while teens make up a small percentage of licensed drivers in the US - about 5% according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, they account for a larger percentage of fatalities (7.8 percent). “There are so many things that we have to worry about, whether it's college or keeping that good GPA and we shouldn’t have to worry about how we’re going to get home or get from point A to point B,” Finkel said. “Teens are on the roads more, they're out of school, all kinds of special activities and things that are really pulling them in different directions,” said Birt, who got involved with SADD during his high school years before becoming CEO.įinkel, a 17-year-old who is soon graduating from Wiregrass Ranch High School in Tampa, Florida, agreed that teens have a lot on their minds heading into summer break. The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is one of the most dangerous times for teen drivers. As the national president of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), she is working alongside SADD CEO and President Rick Birt to ensure the roads are safer for teens. Fasig & Brooks is proud to partner with SADD to bring Renee and Eric to Leon County and empower our Leon teens with Renee and Eric’s presentation.As another summer kicks into high gear, vacation plans aren’t the only thing top of mind for high school senior Shaina Finkel.
Whenever they present, there is always a long line of people who stay afterwards just to thank them and to share their promise of never driving while impaired.įlorida SADD is funded by a grant. Matthew West, a popular Christian performer, was so moved that he wrote a song about them called Forgiveness. Their presentation is so powerful that they have been recognized on the national CBS Evening News and will soon appear on the Katie Couric show. For more information, go to the Meagan Napier webpage. Through an amazing leap of forgiveness, Renee successfully had Eric’s prison sentence reduced and they began speaking in schools about their experience. When Eric was a young man, he made the tragic mistake of driving while impaired and killed Renee’s daughter, Meagan in a car crash. Support of, we will bring in Renee Napier and Eric Smallridge to share their amazing story at each of these schools. We currently have SADD chapters at Chiles, Godby, and Florida A&M University Developmental Research School. Here in Leon County, we are proud to partner with Fasig & Brooks. The collaboration and cooperation between the state and community based organizations enhances the “Triangle of Caring” which is comprised of school, home, and community. The Florida SADD office provides statewide coordination and assistance to Florida’s 200+ SADD chapters and works in cooperation with many state agencies, local school districts, law enforcement offices, and othe r state and community based organizations. To provide students with the best prevention tools possible to deal with the issues of underage drinking, other drug use, impaired driving and other destructive decisions.
And that is why SADD has become a peer leadership organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions, particularly underage drinking, other drug use, impaired and risky driving, and teen violence and suicide. That positive peer pressure, role models and other strategies can help them say “No” to more than drinking and driving. Originally, the mission of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) was to help young people say “No” to drinking and driving. In 1997, in response to requests from SADD students themselves, SADD expanded its mission and name, and now chapters are called Students Against Destructive Decisions. SADD’s success demonstrates that students everywhere are taking the lead in reducing deaths on the road. SADD’s philosophy is: If the problem is mine, the solution also begins with me. “No-Use” message – no alcohol, tobacco, or illegal substances – through positive peer pressure, support, and activism. The purpose of Florida SADD is to assist and encourage middleĪnd high school students to live safe, healthy, and substance-free lifestyles by creating chapters in their schools that support and promote positive decision-making. Florida SADD emphasizes traffic safety because traffic crashes are the # 1 cause of death for teenagers in America.
Others in the community concerning the problems of underage drinking, impaired driving, seatbelt usage, driver training, speeding, and red light running. Florida SADD is dedicated to educating students, parents, and