Ford Driving Skills for Life

Matt | August 21, 2013 | 0 Comments

As figures show, the greatest cause of death for young people is road accidents. In an effort to spread their road safety message, Ford is introducing their globally successful ‘Ford Driving Skills for Life’ program to the UK.

Ford will invest more than £1.2 million this year into training drivers under the age of 25. Their program consists of one-to-one training for more than 5,000 young drivers in the UK and Europe, as well as an online Driving Skills for Life Academy which will reach thousands more.

Ford conducted a survey of young drivers and their parents, which had some shocking results:

Most young drivers admitted to speeding
Almost half admitted to eating and drinking behind the wheel.
2/5 uses a mobile phone while driving.

Stephen Odell, President of Europe, Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company, is quoted as saying: “It’s a sobering statistic that 18 to 24 year olds in Europe are at almost twice the risk of being killed in road accidents as other drivers

Ford Driving Skills for Life has had a very positive impact in North America and Asia and I’m delighted that we are now bringing this program to Europe.”

Ford’s main objective is to address the leading causes of accidents among young drivers and provide hands-on expert help and training in: hazard recognition, vehicle handling, speed/space management and distractions.

Edmund King, AA president, is reported as saying: “Road safety is the most important life skill for young people as crashes remain a major cause of accidental death in this age group. The AA training in Ford Driving Skills for Life will prepare them for a much safer life on the road ahead. We will reinforce the skills needed to counter the combined risks of inexperience and misjudgment. This training, for some, could mean the difference between life and death.”

The Department for Transport report for 2011 showed that 1/5 road accidents involved a young driver and a whopping 25% (1,552) of those were killed or seriously injured.

“The evidence suggests that younger drivers are slower to identify some risky situations than more experienced drivers,” explained driving behavior expert Cris Burgess, a UK government advisor and senior lecturer in psychology at Exeter University.

“That inexperience often adds crucial split seconds in reaction time, so that when they do recognise the danger, they are unable to take the necessary action quickly enough to avoid a crash.”

The Ford survey also found that parents of UK motorists aged 17-24 are more worried that their child will be in a crash than be a victim of crime.

Mark Ovenden, chairman and managing director, Ford of Britain is quoted as saying: “As a parent of teenage children, one of whom is currently learning to drive, I am totally supportive of supplementary training to build awareness, skills and confidence. With Ford Driving Skills for Life we hope to inspire a generation of safer, more responsible and better skilled young motorists.”

The Ford survey also revealed that most young drivers consider getting to their destination as the most important part of a car journey. Other statistics revealed include:

A massive 45% said they often exceeded speed limits.
27% had been involved in an accident or a near miss.
11% had lost control of the vehicle
10% had been involved in a road rage incident.
4% admitted to drink driving.

“Passing a driving test is a rite of passage, but that alone is not enough to ensure a young driver becomes a safe driver,” said Jim Vella, president of the Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, the philanthropic arm of Ford that oversees Ford Driving Skills for Life.

“Ford Driving Skills for Life gives young inexperienced drivers valuable tools and skills that can help reduce their exposure to risk. And we work closely with external agencies to make sure the training is fun, informative and – above all – effective.”

For more information and advice for young drivers on staying safe, please visit HelpOnTheRoads.co.uk