Ford’s global driving skills for life programme to train more new drivers in US, Asia this year; 500,000 trained to date

Ford kicks-off another year of helping new drivers around the world improve their motoring skills through the Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme.

This week, Ford Motor Company Fund and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) begin
the ninth year of DSFL for new young drivers in the United States with a high school tour across Northwest America.

Ford DSFL will visit 30 high schools in five states with a transporter featuring specially equipped vehicles and professional instructors. The programme delivers a full day of multifaceted activities that build young drivers’ skills in four key areas: driver distraction, speed/space management, vehicle handling and hazard recognition. DSFL reached 35,000 teen drivers on the high school tour last year and the same number is expected to participate this year.

“By immersing ourselves in high schools for a day, the Ford Driving Skills for Life program seeks to leave a lasting impression on teens and ultimately make them safer drivers,” said Jim Vella, President, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Inexperience is the leading cause of crashes in young drivers, and this program delivers the key skill sets that increase their knowledge and confidence.”

More than 3,000 teens ages 15-19 are killed on American roads each year, making traffic fatalities the No. 1 killer of American teens, according to government statistics. DSFL is designed to make a difference with the most comprehensive driving skills program in the US It provides free professional driver instruction, a web-based curriculum, state grants and materials.

Posted in: Ford