Ford Driving Skills for Life

AUTOMOBILES

             Thousands More New Drivers around the World to Learn Safe Driving Skills from Ford Driving Skills for Life in 2013

 

·         Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) kicks off the tenth year of teaching new drivers safe driving skills, and the sixth year in Asia

·         More than 550,000 new drivers globally have utilized DSFL’s online and professional hands-on driver instruction

 ·         In India, more than 3000 people across key cities were trained through the program, in 2012

 

New Delhi, Mar 11, 2013 – For the tenth year, new drivers around the world will get an opportunity to improve their skills through the Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program. Ford DSFL works to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and injuries by teaching new drivers the skills needed to bring the experience gap.

 

“Inexperience is the leading cause of crashes in new drivers, and Ford Driving Skills for Life includes a variety of engaging and targeted methods to deliver key skill sets that boost their confidence and knowledge,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Our mission is to make the roads safer for everyone.”

 

In Asia, Ford DSFL now is in its sixth year training newly licensed drivers in Asia with programs in mainland China, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and South Africa. About 13,500 drivers were trained last year and another 14,000 will be trained this year.  More than 63,000 people have been trained since the program began there. 

 

Local driving environment and the needs of drivers are addressed during the training in each Asian market. For example, in China DSFL added a segment on the use of child safety seats after a new regulation went into effect there, and sessions tailored for female drivers were added in several countries including Thailand and Indonesia. In Vietnam, Ford DSFL launched a No Honking campaign to reduce the adverse effects on road safety of the prevalent and inappropriate use of vehicle horns.

In India and China, Ford launched the “I Pledge” campaign, wherein the online community was invited to take a pledge on safe driving and undertake the DSFL training. This online campaign will expand into more countries in 2013.Ford India also unveiled First Gear, a must-have handbook for the first-time car buyer, which incorporates handy tips on how to choose your car and how to become a safe driver. Ford is bringing DSFL to the Middle East this month. In partnership with the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Road and Transport Authority, Ford DSFL will visit three universities with professional instructors who will demonstrate safe driving practices using specially equipped Ford vehicles.

In the U.S., traffic fatalities are the leading killer of teens, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ford DSFL will reach students in about 200 high schools this year with its safe driving materials, thanks to Ford Motor Company Fund and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). GHSA calls Ford Driving Skills for Life the most comprehensive teen safe driving program in the U.S. with hands-on community driving events, Web-based learning, government grants, fun contests and free educational materials for parents and teachers.

 

In 2013 Ford DSFL is launching an enhanced version of the interactive Web-based training called “The Academy” on its website www.drivingskillsforlife.com – which will be redesigned during the first half of the year.  Expanded use of social media and interactive web-based tools also is underway in the Asia Pacific region.  Other free materials are available upon request for students, educators, parents and community organizations.