July 07, 2015

School may be out, but safe driving is still in session. This summer, more than 1,500 teens will attend free camps across six states where they will learn important safe driving tips that are not always taught in driver’s education, such as how to handle a vehicle on slippery pavement or react to a deer or other animal in their path.

Teens attending the Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) hands-on camps will also learn the dangers of impaired driving through the use of a special suit and goggles that mimic how being under the influence of alcohol or drugs slows movements, reduces coordination and blurs vision.

This first-ever Ford DSFL summer tour for teens – as well as their parents – begins July 7 in Fargo, North Dakota. Through July and August the tour will also visit Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

“Our program is focused on providing young and inexperienced drivers with the training and tools they need to stay safe behind the wheel,” said Jim Graham, manager, Ford Driving Skills for Life. “We are excited to bring this program to these states for the first time as we look to provide an extra step in the learning process for new drivers.”

In partnership with the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the summer camps are being held at a time of year when teens run a higher risk of driving accidents as they travel for jobs and other activities.

“Summer is an especially risky time for teen drivers,” said Jonathan Adkins, GHSA executive director. “More teen driving-related deaths tend to occur in June, July and August than any other month. So it’s particularly timely that Ford Driving Skills for Life is taking its show on the road, hitting six states during the heart of this dangerous driving season.”

Source
Ford Media