Bringing to life its long-standing advocacy on road safety, Ford Philippines has launched the Driving Skills for Life program, one of its biggest corporate social responsibility programs.
A United Nations-recognized training program, the DSFL is now on its 12th year in the Philippines and has successfully trained over 23,000 Filipino drivers since 2008. Over the years, the program has made itself relevant with the changing road conditions, policies, and government regulations.
The DSFL program is a combination of classroom training that includes modules on vehicle handling, driving in special conditions, anti-distracted driving, and fuel-efficient driving, as well as a hands-on driving simulation that allows participating drivers to apply their learnings from the classroom sessions. The DSFL program is offered to participating drivers for free.
This year, the DSFL is aiming to cover 2,500 participants composed of student and private drivers, public utility drivers such as jeepney, bus and school bus drivers, drivers from fleet partner companies, traffic regulators and call center employees in key areas in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. DSFL started to roll out in Visayas and Mindanao in 2017.
“One of our commitments at Ford is to help promote and improve road safety in the country. Our aim every year is to increase driver safety awareness with the DSFL, practicing the proper skills required of anybody who gets behind the wheel and ensuring that drivers and their passengers get to their destinations safely all the time,” shares EJ Francisco, director for Communications at Ford Philippines.
DSFL participants can expect to learn more about the dangers of distracted driving, drunk driving, as well as tips and techniques in driving under special conditions and vehicle handling in this year’s sessions. They will also be refreshed with key road statistics and relevant regulations such as the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act.
Focused on helping eliminate road accidents, road altercations, and traffic congestion, the DSFL addresses the root cause of these road issues by educating drivers on basic road courtesy, safe driving techniques, and traffic signs and regulations.
Working together with long-time partner Tuason Racing School, Ford provides an immersive and interactive training experience in its DSFL sessions. DSFL participants are provided with useful tips on vehicle maintenance, road safety measures, and fuel-efficient driving skills, as well as practical hands-on driving sessions to apply their learnings.
The DSFL has been a consistent recipient of awards in the country. Early this year, it bagged a Gold Award in the road safety category of the 3rd Driven to Serve Awards of the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ).
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.
