Experts have identified the lack of these skills as the cause of approximately 60 percent of vehicle crashes for newly licensed drivers ages 16 to 19 years old.
DSFL was created in 2003 in partnership with the Governors Highway Safety Association. It is one of the nation’s most comprehensive teen driver safety programs.
Ford’s program also engages teens to promote driving safety with other teens, as they are the most influential voice with peers. For example, DSFL provided budgets to participating high school students in Nashville, Tenn., and Dearborn, Mich., for the creation of safe driving campaigns targeted to their classmates. The students made public service announcements, YouTube videos and posters, and hosted school assemblies – all with the aim of reducing dangerous driving behaviors.
DSFL reaches teens beyond the on-hands experience with an interactive Web site (www.drivingskillsforlife.com) that includes a learning module, quizzes, car care videos, driving tip videos, interactive games and an enhanced eco-driving curriculum. Free educator packets are available for students and parents, as well as for teachers and community programs.
Community curbs tragedies through teaching
Already in 2009, DSFL has conducted four instructional events nationwide, with nine additional programs planned – each of which engages 400 students on average. One notable success of the program has been a campaign in rural Tazewell County, in central Illinois. During a 15-month period in 2004-05, the Tazewell community was rocked by a series of teen driving accidents that claimed the lives of 15 teenagers.
In 2007 DSFL joined a community-based program – the Tazewell Teen Initiative – to help fight the problem. Together, they created a comprehensive initiative that included a community awareness campaign contest among the county’s seven high schools, speaking appearances by professional drivers, eye-catching signage on school property and educational materials. The program culminated with 300 students participating in intensive professional driving instruction.
Since then, there hasn’t been a single new teen road fatality in Tazewell County.
The state of Illinois was so pleased with the Tazewell results that it partnered with DSFL to take the program statewide in 2008. The state credits the program in part for reducing teen fatalities by more than 40 percent last year.
Ford MyKey
As part of a comprehensive approach to teen safety, Ford is introducing an innovative new technology – called MyKey – designed to help parents encourage their teenagers to drive safer and more fuel efficiently, and increase safety-belt usage.
Ford’s MyKey feature – which debuts this summer as standard equipment on the 2010 Ford Focus and Taurus and will quickly become standard on many other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models – allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume. MyKey also encourages safety-belt usage – the No. 1 life-saving device in accidents – with a more insistent belt reminder chime and by muting the audio system until the driver and front passenger buckle up.
QUOTES:
“The Ford Driving Skills for Life program is designed to help teens and parents learn important lessons in road safety. Teen vehicle crashes remain the No. 1 killer of teens across the nation, and we unfortunately have witnessed that reality in Michigan during the past few months. The Ford Motor Company Fund is committed to combating teen crashes and fatalities.”
– Jim Graham,
Community relations manager, Ford Motor Company Fund
“This is a tremendous opportunity being made available for these young drivers. In addition to the essential skills teens will be trained in, they hopefully will come away with a better understanding of the importance of mature and responsible decision-making while driving. It’s an unfortunate fact that we are losing a lot of young drivers each year due to a lack of sound judgment and maturity while driving.”
– Michael Prince,
Director of Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning
“The program gave these teenagers the challenge, financial backing, driving skills and the confidence to make a difference and save lives. It also brought healing to a community still grieving over lives lost. We cannot put a monetary value on the skills the program taught to the community – skills that will last a lifetime.”
– Michael R. Stout,
Director of Public Safety, Illinois Department of Transportation
Press release via Ford