FCCLA

Safe Rides - Save Lives

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Empowered by FCCLA’s Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety (FACTS) National Program and sponsored by The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF), the Safe Rides, Save Lives PSA Contest invites FCCLA Members to use their creativity, leadership, and voices to help make a difference on the road. Participants may compete individually or as part of a team to create an original 25-second video public service announcement that delivers an important traffic safety message directly to teen drivers and passengers.

More than a video contest, this opportunity brings classroom learning to life through research, writing, advocacy, collaboration, and digital media production. It is a great fit for any FCCLA Member, whether they are interested in public service, communications, media, technology, or simply want a creative way to make an impact. Participants interested in the Public Service Career Cluster can explore traffic safety, public awareness, community education, and advocacy, while those interested in the Arts and Design Career Cluster can build hands-on experience in concept development, scriptwriting, filming, editing, and visual storytelling.

For educators, the contest offers an engaging way to connect Family and Consumer Sciences education with career exploration, project-based learning, and community impact. For FCCLA Members, it is an opportunity to develop a powerful message, strengthen career-ready skills, compete for national recognition and cash prizes, and potentially see their idea transformed into a professionally produced PSA shared through national traffic safety outreach.

Contest Prizes

  • First Place: One (1) first-place winning participant (or team) will receive a $3,500 cash prize, and the opportunity to work with an award-winning production team to create their student-developed PSA into a professional PSA. FCCLA and NRSF will use the winning submission in national PSA outreach opportunities.
  • Second Place: One (1) second-place winning participant (or team) will receive a $1,000 cash prize.
  • Third Place: One (1) third-place winning participant (or team) will receive a $500 cash prize.

Contest Deadline

Entries must be submitted by March 1, 2027, at 11:59 PM ET.

2026-2027 Contest Details

Mission: Create a video PSA that is exactly 25 seconds

Audience: Teen Drivers and Passengers

Topic: Emotions Behind the Wheel

Why: Strong emotions do not just affect your mood. They affect your mind and body, too. Whether you are angry after a fight, anxious about an exam, overwhelmed by stress, or heartbroken after receiving bad news, those feelings can influence how you respond behind the wheel. They may slow your reactions, cloud your judgment, make it harder to process what is happening around you, and take your attention away from the road.

Unlike a phone, food, or another visible distraction, emotional distractions can be difficult for others to recognize. A driver may appear focused while their thoughts are somewhere else entirely. This makes emotional readiness an important part of preparing to drive safely. When emotions run high, decision-making ability can run low, increasing the risk of missed signals, unsafe choices, delayed reactions, or losing focus at a critical moment.

Just as drivers are encouraged to put away their phones and remove other distractions, they should also take a moment to check in with themselves before driving. Recognizing that you are too angry, anxious, upset, or overwhelmed to give the road your full attention can be an important step toward preventing a crash. Pausing before driving, taking time to reset, or choosing another safe way to reach your destination can help protect everyone on the road.

This theme challenges FCCLA Members to explore how emotional readiness impacts driving safety and to create a memorable PSA that encourages teen drivers and passengers to reflect on their mindset before putting the keys in the ignition.

How: Go to www.nrsf.org and use resources from the National Road Safety Foundation to craft the video’s message. Be sure to review the official contest rules below before filming.

When: Video submissions are due March 1, 2027.

Check out the 2025-2026 winners and their PSA videos below. 

NRSF Free Traffic Safety Resources

Explore free videos, PSAs, educational materials, and traffic safety resources from The National Road Safety Foundation.

Thank you to our generous contest sponsor: 

NRSF

 

Members develop skills for life through: character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and career preparation.