Following the recent “Future of Safety with Ford” tour, Ford Motor Company continued its global Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) campaign in Malaysia by kicking off a series of workshops aimed at raising awareness of safe driving techniques at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus.
Ford’s half-day DSFL workshops that was provided for free-of-charge to college students, emphasize the importance of safe driving skills for motorists in Malaysia.
According to the World Health Organisation’s Global Status Report on Road Safety, Malaysia’s road fatalities per 100,000 population are among the highest in ASEAN, while figures from The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (MIROS) show an average of 18 people are killed on the country’s roads every day; a figure that is predicted to rise to 29 by 2020.
The Driving Skills for Life programme is aimed at educating drivers on necessary and practical skills for driving safely, helping to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries associated with traffic accidents. DSFL training includes both a classroom session covering theory, as well as a hands-on driving session to apply the learnings.
In addition to the programme’s core content, an emphasis on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol has been incorporated this year, including having participants wear specially designed gear that helps simulate the experience of driving while movement, coordination and alertness are impaired.
“Driving Skills for Life is designed to equip people with the skills they need to be better, safer drivers. Road safety is a very serious issue, and we feel it is our responsibility to help reinforce this message among Malaysian motorists, especially young drivers,” said David Westerman, managing director, Asia-Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.
DSFL is Ford’s flagship global corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. In Asia, Ford DSFL is now in its 8th year of training licensed drivers of all ages. In addition to Malaysia, DSFL training is provided in China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
