We take the safety of new drivers very seriously. To help new drivers become safe drivers, we partnered with the Governors Highway Safety Association to create Driving Skills for Life.
Helping New Drivers Become Safe Drivers
With help from a panel of safety experts, we identified four skill areas—hazard recognition, vehicle handling, space management and speed management. Deficiency in these areas is responsible for the majority of teen traffic crashes, the leading killer of teens.
To help teen drivers improve their safe driving skills in these four areas, we created Driving Skills for Life. To support this program, we developed a multiyear educational campaign aimed at teens, parents and the driver education community.
Educational materials created for Driving Skills for Life include brochures, videos, interactive web features, courses and workshops, community activities, public service announcements and exhibits at conventions and conferences.
Illinois Reduces Teen Auto Fatalities
Illinois state officials are crediting Ford Motor Company Fund's Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) teen safe driving program for helping reduce the state's teen auto fatalities by 61 percent reduction thus far in 2008. The state is expanding the partnership with one of the nation's toughest teen safety campaigns - Operation Teen Safe Driving, which is modeled after DSFL - after teen fatalities in the state fell from 57 in Jan. 1 - April 15, 2007 to 22 during the same period this year. State officials attribute this dramatic reduction to a comprehensive approach, including driving instruction.
"The Driving Skills for Life program exemplifies a commitment to safety, not only by Ford Motor Company, but by an entire community," said Jim Graham, community relations manager of Ford Motor Company Fund. "We applaud the Illinois officials and teens around the state for making teen safe driving a top priority - we hope other states follow their lead."
Educational Kits Distributed Nationwide
As part of the Driving Skills for Life program, we sent educational kits to every public, private and parochial high school in the United States. These kits included a 30-minute DVD about safe driving, brochures, and letters to educators and parents stressing the importance of teaching teens about safe driving.
Read more about these kinds of programs in our Driving Skills for Life Newsletter.
