FORD Philippines recently kicked off one of its most significant corporate social responsibilities (CSR) programs bringing to life its long-standing advocacy on road safety—the Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program.
Now on its 13th edition, this United Nations-recognized training program has already successfully trained over 26,000 Filipino drivers since 2008. Over the years, the program has been relevant considering the changing road conditions, policies, and government regulations.
What is new this year is the theme “Safe Driving in the New Normal.” 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 fundamental vehicle dynamics and handling, driving in various conditions, anti-distracted driving, and fuel-efficient driving. Further, this year’s sessions will be conducted virtually to foster a safe and physically distant learning environment. The supposed 2020 session was deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, over 3,300 public and private drivers participated in the DSFL.
“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,” shared 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 aim to provide an interactive training session with more instructional videos, games, and contests. Part of it is valuable tips on vehicle maintenance, road safety measures, and fuel-efficient driving skills. Of course, relevant topics such as pandemic car care and maintenance tips, car sanitation and disinfection, and driving techniques during the rainy weather.
The training program has been a consistent recipient of awards in the country. It earned 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. What makes the DSFL program effective is that it utilizes a combination of classroom training with modules on vehicle handling, driving in particular conditions, anti-distracted driving, and fuel-efficient driving, as well as a hands-on driving simulation (pre-pandemic). It allows participating drivers to apply their learnings from the classroom sessions. In 2017, DSFL was rolled out in the Visayas and Mindanao region.
Driving Skills for Life was established in the United States in 2003 by Ford Motor Company Fund, the US 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.
Several DSFL sessions will be open to the public to register and participate. Interested parties may go to Ford Philippines’s Facebook page to know more about Ford Driving Skills for Life.