Ford Motor Company Fund expands driver-education program for teens

Driving Skills for Life (DSFL), a free program sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund to teach teen drivers safe driving skills, will be coming to 31 more cities this year as part of the DSFL national high-school tour and community program.

New sites for the clinic include Albany, N.Y.; Louisville, Ky.; Atlanta; Phoenix, and Boston.

“There is nothing more important than the safety of our young people on the road,” said Jim Graham, manager of DSFL. “Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and we are committed to make a difference with this critical issue.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-to 20-year-olds.

“NHTSA recognizes the importance and effectiveness of programs like Ford's Driving Skills for Life for teens, which send a strong message that driving demands focus from every driver, regardless of age or experience,” said NHTSA administrator David Strickland.

NHTSA itself has developed a multitiered strategy to prevent motor-vehicle-related deaths and injuries among teen drivers. It is focusing its efforts on marketing and educational materials meant to increase seatbelt use, to spur implementation of graduated driver licensing, to reduce teens' access to alcohol and to increase parental responsibility.

By Julie Alvin