4 Driving Skills for Life
Vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teenagers in America, claiming 6,000 drivers annually between the ages of 16 and 20. Because of inexperience, many teens lack the skills and knowledge required to be safe drivers. Statistics demonstrate that teen involvement in crashes declines considerably as drivers gain experience. Ford Motor Company, the Governors Highway Safety Association and a panel of highway safety experts have designed a skills development program that addresses the leading causes of teen crashes. The program is managed by Ford Philanthropy, the philanthropic arm of Ford. Driving Skills for Life consists of four skills on which teens need to focus to reduce involvement in crashes.
1. Hazard Recognition
- Approaching and turning left at intersections
- The point of no return
- How to scan for trouble
- Minimize distractions
- Safety zones
- Minimum vision lead time
2. Vehicle Handling
- How acceleration, deceleration, braking and turns affect vehicle balance
- Shifting loads gradually
- Adjusting to a vehicle's size and weight
- Conventional braking systems versus anti-lock braking systems
- Emergency braking tequniques
- Contact road patches
3. Space Management
- Maintaining space around, ahead and behind the vehicle
- Learning how to adjust speed
- Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles
- How to avoid being rear-ended
- Avoiding a head-on crash
4. Hazard Recognition
- How to stay in contact with the road
- Driving at a speed that doesn’t endanger or impede others
- How to recover from skids in front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles
- Using proper signals and “covering” the brake
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About Ford Philanthropy And Community Services
Ford Philanthropy and Community Services is committed to creating opportunities that promote corporate citizenship, philanthropy, volunteerism and cultural diversity for those who live in the communities where Ford does business. Established in 1949 and made possible by Ford Motor Company profits, Ford Philanthropy supports initiatives and institutions that foster innovative education, auto-related safety, and American heritage and legacy. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, which provides high school students with academically rigorous 21st century learning experiences, and Driving Skills for Life, a teen-focused auto safety initiative. The Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, continues Ford's legacy of caring worldwide. Through the Volunteer Corps, salaried employees, union members, retirees and their families participate in a wide range of volunteer projects in their communities. For more information on programs made possible by Ford Philanthropy and Community Services, visit http://www.drivingskillsforlife.com/.
About GHSA
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Indian Nation. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202.789.0942 or visit http://www.ghsa.org/.
