• From July through early August, summer camps featuring free advanced hands-on driver training to be held in North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Wyoming
• Ford Driving Skills for Life summer tour being held at a time of year when teens run a higher risk of driving accidents as they travel for jobs and other activities
• Summer camp to focus on hands-on vehicle handling, hazard recognition, speed management, space management and distracted and impaired driving

DEARBORN, Mich., July 6, 2015 – School may be out, but safe driving is still in session. This summer, more than 1,500 teens will attend free camps across six states where they will learn important safe driving tips that are not always taught in driver’s education, such as how to handle a vehicle on slippery pavement or react to a deer or other animal in their path.

Teens attending the Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) hands-on camps will also learn the dangers of impaired driving through the use of a special suit and goggles that mimic how being under the influence of alcohol or drugs slows movements, reduces coordination and blurs vision.

This first-ever Ford DSFL summer tour for teens – as well as their parents – begins July 7 in Fargo, North Dakota. Through July and August the tour will also visit Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

“Our program is focused on providing young and inexperienced drivers with the training and tools they need to stay safe behind the wheel,” said Jim Graham, manager, Ford Driving Skills for Life. “We are excited to bring this program to these states for the first time as we look to provide an extra step in the learning process for new drivers.”

In partnership with the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the summer camps are being held at a time of year when teens run a higher risk of driving accidents as they travel for jobs and other activities.

“Summer is an especially risky time for teen drivers,” said Jonathan Adkins, GHSA executive director. “More teen driving-related deaths tend to occur in June, July and August than any other month. So it’s particularly timely that Ford Driving Skills for Life is taking its show on the road, hitting six states during the heart of this dangerous driving season.”

Below are additional details of the tour:

• July 7-8, Fargo, North Dakota
• July 11-12, Omaha, Nebraska
• July 15-16, Des Moines, Iowa
• July 18-19, Madison, Wisconsin
• July 25-26, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• Aug. 6-7, Cheyenne, Wyoming

Summer camp stops will feature four half-day sessions, with each session covering the full DSFL curriculum of vehicle handling, hazard recognition, speed management and space management. Participants are asked to register for only one of the available half-day sessions.

Impaired driving

Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death among American teenagers. According to the CDC, teen drivers are three times more likely than more experienced drivers to be in a fatal crash, and drinking any alcohol greatly increases this risk. Based on a 2012 study by the CDC, the six states participating in the summer tour ranked among the highest percentage of high school teens ages 16 years or older who said they drink and drive.

To address these startling statistics, the Ford DSFL summer camps feature expanded discussion about impaired driving through the use of the special impaired driving suit and goggles.

Parent participation

Parents are encouraged to participate with their teens at the summer camps because of the significant role they play in shaping their children’s driving habits. The curriculum is relevant to new and experienced drivers alike, offering hands-on ride-and-drive courses and classroom material focused on vehicle handling, hazard recognition, speed management and space management.

Ford DSFL was established in 2003 by Ford Motor Company Fund, GHSA and a panel of safety experts with the mission of teaching newly licensed drivers the necessary skills for safer driving, and the importance of making good decisions while on the road. By the end of 2015, DSFL will have conducted hands-on training in all 50 states since the program first began.

For the full DSFL summer tour schedule and to register, please visit www.drivingskillsforlife.com. Registration is limited and signed consent forms are required along with a valid driver’s license or permit.