Experienced drivers know a dangerous situation can
develop at any time or any place. An icy road, a flooded street or a
distracted driver can quickly turn a routine trip into an emergency.
Brooklyn Dippo learned that lesson first hand when
she lost control of her car. Thankfully, she paid close attention during
her Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) training session and managed to
keep her cool by remembering what the Ford DSFL pros told her - look
where you want the car to go.
“Continuing to drive out of it instead of just
slamming on my brakes caused considerably more damage on the passenger
side of my car, but I was safe and able to walk away after the
accident,” said Dippo, Miss San Antonio 2013. “Knowing what could have
happened if I didn't respond the way I did still scares me. The Ford
DSFL program really does save lives and it just may have saved mine.”
Now in its 11th year, Ford DSFL was established in
2003 to help reduce traffic accidents - the No. 1 killer of teens in the
United States. The program has provided hands-on training to more than
30,000 teens in nearly 100 U.S. cities across 39 states. Ford DSFL has
reached another 500,000 people through its Academy online training
courses.
“Our mission is to make the roads safer for
everyone,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and
Community Services. “We work closely with external partner agencies to
make sure the training is fun, informative and – above all – effective.”
The next chapter in the Ford DSFL story is already
underway in Europe, Asia and Africa. The program is established in more
than a dozen countries from China, India and South Africa to the United
Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Germany.
“Each region has different issues and different
needs, and we tailor the program accordingly,” said Jim Graham, manager,
Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL). “In some countries, not all new
drivers are teens. In others, the environment, landscape or increasing
traffic volumes are the main concern. One common thread in all areas is
inexperience.”
More than 100,000 drivers around the world have
taken part in the free, hands-on Ford DSFL training with professional
drivers. Down the road, more U.S. states and countries such as Belgium,
Romania and Myanmar are expected to join the effort to educate safer
drivers.
Ford DSFL partners with government organizations
such as the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) to determine
which locations could benefit most from Ford DSFL training. For example,
Ford DSFL is continuing its partnership with the Illinois Department of
Transportation on Operation Teen Safe Driving, which has helped reduce
teen auto fatalities by 48 percent. The Michigan Office of Highway
Safety Planning modeled Strive 4 A Safer Drive after the Illinois
program and will reach out to more than three dozen high schools this
year.
“Ford’s commitment to partnering with states on teen
driver education remains unprecedented,” said GHSA Chairman Kendell
Poole. “With state and federal highway safety funding continuing to be
limited, Ford’s support is increasingly critical.”
Ford DSFL focuses on four main categories: speed management, vehicle spacing, vehicle handling and hazard recognition.
An important educational tool for students and parents is the redesigned Ford DSFL website www.drivingskillsforlife.com
that includes an enhanced version of the interactive Web-based training
called “The Academy.” The new website will feature interactive games
and quizzes, and the opportunity to earn points toward items in the Ford
DSFL Store. The entire website is accessible across multiple platforms,
including mobile devices, making it easy for teens, parents and
educators to access information on the go.
“As a parent of children who have recently acquired
driving licenses, helping kids to learn to drive more safely has my
whole-hearted support,” said Stephen Odell, president, Ford of Europe,
Middle East and Africa. “Our vision is that a whole generation of young
drivers will benefit from this program.”
Source: FordMotorCo
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