Thousands more drivers worldwide join Ford’s Driving Skills for Life

MANILA, Philippines - For the tenth year, 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 helping educate drivers on the skills needed to drive more safely.

“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 is now in its sixth year of training licensed drivers of all ages, and has become the company’s flagship community relations program across the region. Programs are now running in eight markets: mainland China, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and South Africa.

About 13,500 drivers participated in DSFL across the region last year and another 14,000 will participate this year.  More than 63,000 people have participated in DSFL since the program was launched in Asia.

DSFL sessions in Asia include both a classroom session covering theory, and a hands-on driving session to practice what participants have learned. Content covers a wide-range of safe driving tips and techniques, such as the proper use of safety belts, avoiding speeding and distractions while driving, and maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles in traffic.

DSFL is customized to suit the local driving environments and the needs of drivers in each 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 conducted in several countries including Thailand and Indonesia. 

In Vietnam, Ford DSFL launched a ‘No Honking’ campaign to help educated drivers about the adverse effects on road safety caused by the prevalent and inappropriate use of vehicle horns. Ford DSFL launched campaigns in India and China inviting drivers to “pledge to drive safe,” and this campaign will expand into more countries in 2013.

Since 2005, Ford Philippines’ road safety program has trained more than 20,000 participants and was relaunched in 2008 under Ford’s global DSFL program. Now in its sixth year, Ford will continue to conduct DSFL seminars at authorized Ford dealerships and is aiming for another 500 drivers to participate in sessions throughout 2013.

“Reducing the number of traffic fatalities and injuries by emphasizing the importance of safe, smart and defensive driving remains the key mission for Ford’s Driving Skills for Life program,” said Randy Krieger, president, Ford Philippines.

Ford also is bringing DSFL to the Middle East this year. 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.