SADD Programs
Contract for Life
A simple but powerful agreement between a student and a parent or guardian — a mutual commitment to safety that has helped protect young people across Saskatchewan and Canada since SADD's founding.
A simple but powerful agreement between a student and a parent or guardian — a mutual commitment to safety that has helped protect young people across Saskatchewan and Canada since SADD's founding.
The Contract for Life is SADD's foundational awareness and prevention tool. It is a written agreement — signed by both a student and a parent or guardian — that establishes a clear, mutual commitment to road safety and open communication.
At its heart the contract says two things: the young person commits to never drive impaired and to always call for a safe ride rather than get in a car with an impaired driver — and the parent or guardian commits to always provide that safe ride, without punishment, no matter the time or circumstances.
That second commitment is what makes the Contract for Life unique. It removes the fear of punishment that often stops young people from making the safe call. Research consistently shows that teens who have made this kind of agreement with a parent are significantly more likely to seek a safe alternative when they need one.
Registered SADD Saskatchewan chapters receive Contract for Life forms as part of their chapter package. Additional copies are available through the provincial office.
Note: The above is a representative version of the Contract for Life. The official SADD Saskatchewan Contract for Life form is available through the provincial office and is included in the Chapter Manual provided to all registered chapters.
The most common reason young people don't call for help is fear of getting in trouble. The parent's commitment to a no-punishment pickup removes that barrier entirely — making the safe choice the easy choice.
The act of signing the contract together starts a conversation about impaired driving between a young person and the adults in their life. That conversation itself is protective — teens who talk with parents about these risks are less likely to engage in them.
A signed, written agreement carries weight. Both parties have made a visible, documented commitment — which research shows increases follow-through compared to verbal agreements alone.
Unlike a one-sided pledge, the Contract for Life asks something of the parent too. It's a two-way agreement — which models the kind of mutual respect and responsibility that underlies healthy family relationships around safety.
When SADD chapters distribute the Contract for Life, students are delivering the message to their peers — the most effective channel for changing youth attitudes about risk behaviour.
No training required. The Contract for Life can be distributed at assemblies, in class, at chapter events, or mailed home. It requires nothing more than a conversation and two signatures.
The Contract for Life is one of the most versatile tools in your chapter's toolkit. Here are some of the most effective ways to use it:
Distribute the contract during a school assembly alongside a presentation on impaired driving. Give students time to read it and take it home to their parents.
Grad season is the highest-risk period for young drivers. Distributing the Contract for Life in the weeks leading up to graduation is one of the most timely and impactful uses.
Pair the contract with red ribbon distribution each November as a dual commitment — a visible symbol (the ribbon) and a written agreement (the contract).
Distribute the contract at school parent evenings or interview nights to reach parents directly — the party making the no-punishment-pickup commitment.
SADD Saskatchewan recognizes chapters that show outstanding use of the Contract for Life through the annual Contract for Life Award. Ask the provincial office for details.
Available free to registered chapters
Printed Contract for Life forms are included in the SADD Saskatchewan Chapter Manual and are available in bulk from the provincial office for chapter distribution activities.
The Contract for Life is available to all registered SADD Saskatchewan chapters. Registration costs $25/year and gives you access to the full suite of chapter resources.
Request Contract for Life forms for your school or chapter through the SADD Saskatchewan provincial office.
Contact the Office