DSFL - Newsletter - Summer 2026
ON THE ROAD
Do you have a teen driver who could benefit from behind-the-wheel training with professional driving instructors? We’re hitting the road this year with stops across the country.* Keep checking our Hands-On Training registration page for more info.
*Tour cities subject to change until dates and locations are confirmed.
“With the NASCAR Cup Series, all eyes are on the track but our focus is on the road. NASCAR drivers are experts in speed, but every driver needs to be an expert in safety. We’re bringing Ford Driving Skills for Life to a handful of NASCAR racing communities this year, plus a few bonus locations, to give young drivers the hands-on experience and confidence they need to handle real-world driving challenges.”
-Joe Provenzano, Mobility Director with Ford Philanthropy
RECENT 2026 TOUR STOPS
Ford Philanthropy and GHSA have already teamed up with the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety and Ford Community Relations to bring Ford Driving Skills for Life to teens in these markets this year. Click on each city to see photo galleries of the sessions!
FORD COMMUNITY RELATIONS SUPPORTS TENNESSEE PROGRAM
The Ford Community Relations team funded the one-day Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program at Rockabillys Stadium in Jackson, Tenn., on April 18. With Ford’s growing presence in the West Tennessee region and the increasing excitement around the BlueOval City campus in nearby Stanton, Tenn., it made sense to give teens in the area from Ford’s various local community partners the opportunity to receive advanced driving lessons from the pros.
“We had a full house for our event in Jackson and empowered our young drivers with the skills they need for a lifetime of safe driving,” said Ford Community Relations Director Gabby Bruno. “Additionally, Ford Community Relations is proud to have brought a unique element to the Ford Driving Skills for Life program with a special ‘ride-and-drive’ experience for the parents and caregivers as well, allowing them to learn about and test the latest advanced safety features of Ford’s product line.”
This is all part of Ford Community Relations’ commitment to being a good neighbor in our plant communities.
SPECK CHECK
A Look at Behavior Behind the Wheel
New drivers pick up the physical skills of driving fairly quickly: braking, accelerating, steering and understanding vehicle size. What takes longer, and often matters more for long‑term safety, is behavior behind the wheel. Crash reconstruction data suggests that many times, the cause of a crash boils down to driver behavior – how fast the driver chooses to drive and if they were operating distracted, impaired or overly tired. These factors all have effects on the outcome.
Emotions play a greater role than people realize. Anger, angst, worry, joy and fear can all affect your driving behavior and increase the risk of a crash. Looking, thinking and planning ahead should be top priorities behind the wheel at all times. Mitigating risk, not reacting with emotion, should guide decisions behind the wheel.
INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT
For more than a decade, Josh Nalbandian has been helping teens build confidence behind the wheel through Ford Driving Skills for Life, and his path to the program brings a unique level of experience and perspective.
Josh serves as a crew chief and right-seat instructor for the program, and he’s been with the program since 2014. Before DSFL, he built his skills at the Bondurant Racing School, maintaining high-performance vehicle fleets. Even earlier, he served in the National Guard and U.S. Army, including an 18-month deployment to Iraq, where he participated in high-speed convoy operations and worked as a heavy vehicle mechanic.
That experience – managing risk, staying calm under pressure and maintaining control – now shapes how he teaches young drivers.
At DSFL, Josh focuses on the fundamentals that make the biggest difference, emphasizing vision, proper hand placement and awareness as critical skills. What sets DSFL apart, he says, is the environment. “It’s less intimidating. There’s no failing. This is about gaining experience without the pressure,” Josh explains. “It’s fun, it’s laid back and we focus on positive reinforcement.”
For parents, his advice is just as important as what he teaches teens. “Stay calm and don’t get upset. They’re going to make mistakes,” he says. “Sometimes it’s about finding a different way to say the same thing so it clicks.”
Through his steady approach and real-world experience, Josh is helping the next generation of drivers stay focused, confident and safe on the road.
THE ACADEMY: FREE ONLINE DRIVER TRAINING
Can’t make an in-person, hands-on training this year? We offer an online Academy with a variety of safe-driving videos and simulations as well as tips and quizzes. Teen participants receive a certificate upon completion of the Academy. Register now to access this online training tool.
FORD DRIVING SKILLS FOR LIFE MISSION
To serve as a critical step in the lifelong learning process of safe driving by providing new drivers advanced real world training, practical education opportunities and innovative programming that is fun and engaging.
