Press Release
Ford's Global Driving Skills for Life Program Enters Fifth Year in the Philippines
- Globally, the DSFL program has trained more than 500,000 drivers through online and professional hands-on driver instruction, including more than 20,000 in the Philippines\
- In the Philippines, the program has been tailored to suit the local driving environment and is aimed at raising awareness of safe and fuel efficient driving techniques through classroom and practical learning
MANILA, Philippines, 21 February, 2012 – Reducing the number of traffic fatalities and injuries remains the key mission for Ford’s global Driving Skills For Life (DSFL) campaign across the company’s global markets, where the program has utilized online, classroom and practical training to enhance the learning process and bridge the experience gap of more than 500,000 drivers of all ages.
Ford DSFL is now in its fifth year of training newly licensed drivers in Ford’s Asia Pacific and Africa markets, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, India, Taiwan, and South Africa. DSFL programs are tailored in each of these markets to reflect the local driving environment and road conditions.
Examples include localized training in Southeast Asia, with tips for driving in flooded and slippery areas, and in China, where snowfall in the northern parts of the country can present slick and sometimes hazardous road conditions.
DSFL provides training in both safe and more economical driving skills. Many DSFL participants in Asia are first-time drivers, as the region’s emerging economies are driving a rapid rise in vehicle ownership. So far, 50,000 have participated in the programme across Asia with another 12,000 expected in 2012, including 2,000 in the Philippines.
Since 2005, Ford Philippines’ road safety program has had more than 20,000 participants and was re-launched in 2008 under Ford’s global DSFL program. The company has an ongoing partnership with the Tuason Racing School (TRS) to help raise awareness on safe driving practices, and has conducted sessions with a wide variety of audience – provided to all, free-of-charge.
“Road safety is a very serious issue in the Philippines, and something that is very close to our business,” said Randy Krieger, President, Ford Group Philippines.
“We are not only committed to providing our customers with vehicles that feature the latest safety features and smart technologies, but with our DSFL training, we also hope to enhance their knowledge and help make them drive better, safer, and with more awareness of other vehicles on the road,” added Krieger.
From fleet companies, Ford customers, university students, to dealer representatives, members of the media and even Ford employees, Ford DSFL delivers an engaging program that helps to enhance the skills and techniques of drivers.
Road traffic accidents continue to cause a high number of fatalities each year, according to government statistics. Based on Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS), 18,810 traffic accidents were reported in 2010, 7,160 of which included fatal and non-fatal road accidents. Additionally, the report shows that 12,665 accidents were caused by human error on the same year.
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