Ford Program Focuses on Teen Drivers

As part of National Teen Driver Safety Week, Ford is focusing on helping the newest drivers on the road learn safe driving skills.

The automotive brand has invested $60 million in the cause with its Ford Driving Skills for Life program, which teaches newly licensed and teen drivers the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what they learn in standard driver education programs.

Hands-on training clinics (along with web-based curriculum) focus on four key areas that are critical factors in more than 60% of vehicle crashes:

• Hazard recognition
• Vehicle handling
• Speed management
• Space management

Sign up here to be notified when a free hands-on training event is near you.

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, which is why Ford Fund, the Governors Highway Safety Association and a panel of safety experts established Ford DSFL in 2003. Approximately 3,000 teens die annually in auto accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Since 16-year-olds have higher crash rates than any other driver, discussing safety precautions with teenagers is imperative. The most important topics to cover include:

• Alcohol
• Inconsistent or no seat belt use
• Distracted and drowsy driving
• Speeding
• Number of passengers

Make sure to remind teen drivers to put their phone away when they get behind the wheel, as texting while driving makes it 23x more likely a crash will occur. Ford offers a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement to help start the discussion with your teen.
Download the agreement here.

Ford also offers a pledge for teen drivers to agree to drive safely. Nearly 12,000 people have taken the pledge, which is:

I PLEDGE TO DRIVE SAFE:

1. Drive safely for myself, my friends, my family and for the safety of others.
2. Wear my safety belt and have my passengers wear their safety belts at all times.
3. Limit distractions. As a novice driver:
   • I will not use my cell phone while driving.
   • I will not text or use any other handheld devices when driving.
   • I will keep music at a reasonable level.
4. Follow the posted speed limit and adjust my speed if required by weather conditions; obey all traffic laws.
5. Not operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
6. Never have too many passengers in my vehicle.
7. Speak up each time I ride with friends and feel unsafe

SIGN THE PLEDGE HERE.

Learn more about Ford’s Driving Skills for Life Program here.