BRENTWOOD, UK, August 24, 2015 – Ford is offering its free young driver training programme for the third year running in the UK. Drivers aged 18-24 can now sign up for the DSFL training at London’s Excel Exhibition Centre on the 20th, 21st and 22nd November ahead of National Road Safety Week (23-27th November.)
Ford has teamed up with leading safety organisations including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), Brake and AA Drive Tech.
Andy Barratt, Chairman and Managing Director, Ford of Britain, said: “Our Driving Skills for Life programme has been running in the UK for three years now - we’re proud that it helps young drivers gain experience behind the wheel in a safe and fun environment and demonstrates the dangers of things such as inappropriate mobile phone use and drink-driving. Ford recognises that young drivers are statistically more at risk than any other group and our global DSFL programme aims to help address this.”
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for young people in the 18 - 24 age group*. Ford’s free, hands-on training covers skills including hazard recognition, vehicle handling, and speed and space management. The program also highlights the risks of distractions such as texting and taking selfies at the wheel, and a special ‘drink-drive’ suit demonstrate the dangers of alcohol and driving.
Each training session addresses the most common factors in young driver crashes, showing young drivers how they might recover from a slide, emergency braking techniques, and how to scan the road ahead for trouble. Those taking part can also experience, in a slow-speed, closed environment, the effects of using a mobile phone.
In 2014, Ford published the results of two surveys. One showed that more than one in four young people have taken a selfie while driving,** and the other that most young drivers in Europe have either driven while drunk, or have seen friends drink and drive.***
Ben Collins, racing driver and former Top Gear “Stig” said: "The Ford DSFL programme is awesome. Those first few years on the road are extremely formative so it's a great time to soak up more information. Ford's training has lots of fun activities around driving better and more safely. It's vital stuff that could significantly reduce your chances of crashing, so it's well worth doing."
Established in 2003 by the Ford Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford DSFL has provided free comprehensive advanced hands-on driver training to more than half a million youngsters globally.
For further details about the Ford DSFL program in the U.K. and to register for a free place on the programme go to: www.forddsfl.co.uk
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* European Commission Road Accident Database
** Ford research was carried out between 03/06/2014 and 27/06/2014. Sample: 7,003 smartphone-owning 18-24 year-old drivers from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain and the U.K.
*** Ford research was carried out between 12/11/2013 and 20/11/2013. Sample: 5,000 drivers aged 18 to 24 from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 187,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information about Ford and its products worldwide please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 47,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately66,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 23 manufacturing facilities (12 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 11 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
