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Ford Road Safety Youth Council members, together with Ford Group Philippines’ AVP for Corporate and Government Affairs Cherry Ramirez (far right), seminar instructor JP Tuason (back row, fourth from the right) are all smiles for responsible driving.

Ford Philippines sustains the momentum of its road safety campaign with the holding of the Ford “Driving Skills for Life” day camp.

The whole day Ford driving camp highlights ‘eco-driving,’ a concept from the global Ford Motor Company program which prioritizes the use of ecologically and economically practical techniques for driving.

“In the face of rising fuel costs and growing concern over the environment, the driving camp attendees were taught to become eco-drivers by raising their awareness on the impact of their driving behaviors,” said Ford AVP Cherry Ramirez.

Coming from the heels of the successful launch of Ford’s anti-drunk driving campaign, the first run of the Ford “Driving Skills for Life” day camp sessions was held on May 7, 8, 9 at the Food Terminal Inc. Complex, Taguig. The second run will be this May 22-24.  It is being conducted in partnership with renowned racer JP Tuason of the Tuason Racing School (TRS).

The Ford driving camp involved a series of fun and educational training activities incorporated into the Ford Responsibility In Driver Education (R.I.D.E.) program. It was designed to further push Ford’s initiative of inculcating responsible driving among the Ford Road Safety Youth Council (RSYC) members.

A camp participant gets one-on-one instruction in eco- driving.

A combination of lectures and hands-on driving exercises, it also covered topics such as defensive driving, basic automobile maintenance, helpful pointers in emergency situations, and other relevant driving tips. It culminated with the Eco Driving Challenge, a competition where participants were able to test their Eco-driving savvy with Ford and Mazda vehicles.

Together with the Ford RSYC council members, media friends, and valued Ford and Mazda dealers and corporate customers attended the Ford driving camp.

TRS is also one of Ford’s partners in the one-hour R.I.D.E. session which makes use of lectures, video presentations and interactive activities that aim to keep both drivers and non-drivers safe when using the road. Other partners are the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists and the Safety Organization of the Philippines. To date, Ford has conducted over 70 R.I.D.E. sessions in about 55 schools. About 10,000 persons have attended the R.I.D.E. sessions since 2005.

For more information about Ford Driving Skills for Life, log on to: http://www.drivingskillsforlife.com

Camp participants learn the importance of automobile maintenance through interactive discussions.

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The Ford Road Safety Program is part of a global effort to reinforce Ford’s commitment to make our country’s roads safer for both motorists and pedestrians. It began when Ford pledged its support to the WHO’s World Health Day Celebration devoted to Road Safety. It was launched in April 2004 via the unveiling of its Road Safety Billboard along the Balibago/Tagaytay road. Since its inception, this award-winning and U.N. recognized awareness campaign included the establishment of the Ford Road Safety Fund which paved the way for successful projects such as:  Child safety seats; Responsibility in Driver Education or R.I.D.E, a comprehensive road safety educational program conducted at various schools; the Road Safety Youth Council (RSYC), a group of youth ambassadors with a current membership of 2,000 students; and the “I don’t drink and drive” (I3D) campaign. The Ford Road Safety Program remains committed to promoting road safety through various activities and campaigns, encouraging the public to join them on the  drive for a safer world. For more information, log on to: http://www.ford.com.ph

Ford Philippines, a leader in the automotive industry, manufactures Ford and Mazda vehicles and Ford engines for both the domestic and export markets that include the ASEAN region and South Africa. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary in September 2007, Ford Philippines remains to be the only volume exporter of completely built up vehicles from the Philippines with vehicle exports reaching its 50,000th mark. It has established its state-of-the-art assembly plant at the Greenfield Automotive Park, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, where it recently launched a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) engine facility. Ford also supports the Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society, Inc. which developed SINAG, the first Philippine Solar Car that competed in the World Solar Car Race in Australia last October. For more information, you may visit www.ford.com.ph