Ford Philippines launched last week the 13th edition of the globally-recognized Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program as part of the company’s Global Caring Month celebrated every September.
With the theme “Safe Driving in the New Normal,” this year’s DSFL will cover timely topics including pandemic car care and maintenance tips, car sanitation and disinfection, and driving techniques during the rainy weather. These are in addition to the existing DSFL training module which covers basic vehicle dynamics and handling, driving in various conditions, anti-distracted driving, and fuel-efficient driving.
This year’s DSFL sessions will be conducted virtually in order to foster a safe and physically-distant learning environment. The DSFL is back this year after its postponement in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are excited to bring the DSFL back this year as part of our Global Caring Month, bringing to life our long-standing advocacy on road safety on the digital platform,” shares EJ Francisco, AVP for Communications, Ford Philippines. “This year, we are making the DSFL a more relevant training program for our participants by sharing the necessary driving habits and skills as they navigate the roads in the ‘new normal’.”
Long-time partner and training facilitator Tuason Racing School will conduct the virtual DSFL program for Ford Philippines and will aim to provide an interactive training session with more instructional videos, games, and contests. Radio personality Sam YG and beauty queen Michelle Dee are this year’s Ford road safety ambassadors and will help expand the visibility of the program in the digital space.
The DSFL has successfully trained over 26,000 drivers since it launched in the country. Over the years, the program has made itself relevant with the changing road conditions, policies, and government regulations. In 2019, over 3,300 public and private drivers participated in the DSFL.
The training program has been a consistent recipient of awards in the country. It brought home a Gold award under the Road Safety category in the 4th Driven to Serve Awards by the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ) in 2020.
Driving Skills for Life was established in the United States in 2003 by Ford Motor Company Fund, the U.S. Governors Highway Safety Association, and a panel of safety experts, to teach newly licensed drivers the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what is learned in standard driver education programs.
A number of DSFL sessions will be open to the public to register and participate. Visit the Ford Philippines’ Facebook page for more updates.