Empowering Students to Lead the Movement for Safer Roads
The California Drives Safe Student Ambassador Program is a youth leadership initiative created by the California Alliance for Road Safety (CARS) to equip high school students to become peer leaders in roadway safety education, awareness, and positive behavior change.
Through this program, students serve as ambassadors for their schools by helping promote safe choices related to driving, riding as a passenger, walking, biking, e-bikes, and other roadway behaviors that impact teen safety.
This program is part of the broader California Drives Safe Movement and works alongside Street Smarts: Teen Edition, our interactive road safety education program designed specifically for teens.
Because Someone Is Waiting at Home.
California Drives Safe Student Ambassador Program
Why This Program Matters
Roadway crashes continue to impact teens, families, and communities across California. Many of the most serious incidents involve preventable behaviors such as speeding, distraction, risky passenger decisions, unsafe pedestrian choices, impaired judgment, and lack of awareness about the law.
The Student Ambassador Program helps students become part of the solution by giving them a platform to:
Lead peer-to-peer safety messaging
Encourage smarter decisions on and around the road
Promote a culture of responsibility at school
Support life-saving education and awareness efforts
Build leadership, communication, and service experience
When students speak to other students, the message often carries farther.
What Is a Student Ambassador?
A California Drives Safe Student Ambassador is a high school student who agrees to represent roadway safety in a positive, responsible, and student-centered way.
Student Ambassadors help:
Share peer-to-peer road safety messages
Support awareness activities on campus
Promote student engagement with safe driving campaigns
Encourage classmates to think differently about risk and responsibility
Serve as youth leaders connected to the California Drives Safe Movement
Depending on the school and level of participation, ambassadors may support awareness booths, pledge drives, social media campaigns, announcements, educational events, or other student-led safety initiatives.
What Student Ambassadors Receive:
Students selected for the program receive:
Student Ambassador onboarding and orientation
Leadership and service experience
Opportunities to support meaningful campus campaigns
Community service hours, where approved
A certificate of participation or recognition
Access to California Drives Safe campaign materials
Opportunities to help amplify road safety messages in their school community
In addition, Student Ambassador schools will have the opportunity to participate in the Street Smarts: Teen Edition road safety education program, providing students with access to an engaging, teen-focused educational experience that reinforces smart decision-making both behind the wheel and beyond it.
Eligibility Requirements:
To participate in the Student Ambassador Program, students must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Be enrolled in high school
Attend a participating school or a school willing to support student involvement
Have a school staff sponsor such as a teacher, counselor, administrator, or activities advisor
Have parent/guardian approval if under 18
Be willing to represent the program in a respectful and responsible manner
Be interested in leadership, service, advocacy, or community engagement
Be willing to participate in program onboarding and follow program expectations
No prior experience is required. Students do not need to be public speakers or student body officers to apply. We welcome students who care about making a difference and are ready to use their voice in a positive way.
Street Smarts: Teen Edition
Street Smarts: Teen Edition is a teen-focused road safety education program designed to help students better understand the risks, choices, and real-life consequences associated with roadway behavior.
Topics include:
Speeding and aggressive driving
Distracted driving
Passenger responsibility
Pedestrian and bike safety
E-bike and mini-bike awareness
Ride share and transportation safety
Respectful law enforcement interactions
Decision-making, peer pressure, and personal responsibility
Schools participating in the Student Ambassador Program will have the opportunity to connect student leadership with this broader educational experience, creating a stronger and more meaningful campus impact.
For Schools
Bring a Student-Led Road Safety Initiative to Your Campus
The Student Ambassador Program gives schools an opportunity to support student leadership while addressing a real issue affecting teens and families across California.
This program is designed to be flexible and school-friendly. It can complement existing leadership programs, wellness initiatives, ASB efforts, service opportunities, or safety campaigns.
Benefits for Schools
Schools that participate may benefit from:
A positive student leadership opportunity
Peer-to-peer safety messaging that resonates with teens
Increased awareness around real roadway risks affecting students
Access to student-focused campaign support and materials
The opportunity to participate in Street Smarts: Teen Edition
A meaningful way to promote responsibility, safety, and service
What Schools Need to Provide
To support participation, schools should identify:
A staff sponsor or point of contact
A process for student approval or coordination, if needed
A willingness to support safe, school-appropriate student engagement
We aim to make participation practical and manageable for schools while ensuring students have appropriate support and oversight.
Ways Schools Can Participate
Schools may choose to participate by:
Supporting one or more student ambassadors
Partnering on school-wide awareness efforts
Hosting a Street Smarts: Teen Edition program opportunity
Encouraging student leadership groups to get involved
Collaborating on future road safety initiatives
For Students
If you want to make a real impact at your school, build leadership experience, and help protect your peers, this program may be a great fit for you.
As a Student Ambassador, you do not need to have all the answers. You just need to care enough to help lead change.
This is an opportunity to:
Use your voice for something meaningful
Help other students think twice before making risky choices
Build confidence, leadership, and service experience
Be part of something bigger than yourself
For Parents
Parents play an important role in helping teens develop safe habits and good judgment. The Student Ambassador Program is designed to reinforce positive decision-making, responsibility, and peer leadership in a way that supports both students and families.
We want parents to know that this program is focused on:
Prevention and education
Positive youth leadership
Responsible school-supported participation
Age-appropriate messaging about safety and decision-making
Students who participate are expected to represent the program respectfully, follow school rules, and work with appropriate adult oversight.
For Parents and Students
Program Expectations
Student Ambassadors are expected to:
Represent their school and CARS in a respectful way
Promote safe and responsible roadway behavior
Follow school rules and program expectations
Use approved or mission-aligned messaging when participating in activities connected to the program
Act in a way that supports the integrity of the program
Participation is intended to be positive, educational, and service-oriented.
Students interested in becoming Student Ambassadors should be prepared to provide:
Basic student information
Be prepared to have a school and staff sponsor
Have consent from parent/guardian
Provide a short statement of interest
Agreement to follow program expectations
Schools interested in participating may contact CARS to learn more about bringing the program to their campus.
How to Apply
Support the Movement
We welcome support from corporations, foundations, government entities, and community organizations interested in expanding teen road safety education.
Donations to the California Alliance for Road Safety are tax-deductible and help bring the Student Ambassador Program and Street Smarts: Teen Edition to more schools across California.