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Ford Driving Skills for Life logo

Ford Driving Skills for Life

Ford and GHSA developed Ford Driving Skills for Life (Ford DSFL) to teach teens the skills they need to be safe on the roads. The program features a website, hands-on driving events, and other materials – all focusing on four key skill areas: driver distraction; speed/space management; vehicle handling; and hazard recognition.

Many State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) are working with Ford to bring the program to high schools in their states and raising awareness about GDL laws and how parents can help keep teens safe on the roads.

State Grants

For 2012, Ford DSFL has awared $20,000 each to five GHSA members to conduct teen driving initiatives incorporating the award-winning Ford DSFLprogram.

2012 National Tour

For the second year in a row, Ford DSFL is taking its show on the road. This year, the program is focusing on high schools in the rural northwest. See below for a list of past and future stops.

Where Are We Going?

Schedule subject to change.

City/State Date City/State Date
Fairbanks, Alaska Sept. 6-7 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Oct. 2-4
Anchorage, Alaska Sept. 10-13 Helena, Mont. Oct. 9-11
Fairbanks, Alaska Sept. 15-16 Missoula, Mont. Oct. 16-18
Wasilla, Alaska Sept. 20-21 Bozeman, Mont. Oct. 23-25
Fairbanks, Alaska Sept. 22-23 Billings, Mont. Oct. 30-Nov. 1

Where Have We Been?

Spokane, Washington

April 18: University High School
Spokane, Wash.

University High School teens test their driving skills in Spokane.
University High School teens test their driving skills in Spokane.

Media Coverage: Driving School teaching teens skills behind the wheel (April 18, KXLY ABC 4 - Spokane, Wash.)

Media Coverage: Spokane Valley students get hands on lesson in distracted driving (April 18, Northwest Cable News - Seattle, Wash.)

April 19: Mt. Spokane High School
Mead, Wash.

The Ford DSFL team finishes set up on a beautiful spring morning at Mt. Spokane High School.
The Ford DSFL team finishes set up on a beautiful spring morning at Mt. Spokane High School.

Media Coverage:

Seattle, Washington

March 28: Kentlake High School
Kent, Wash.

Driving instructor Juan Babun examines the considerable cone carnage at Kentlake High School.
Driving instructor Juan Babun examines the considerable cone carnage at Kentlake High School.

Media Coverage: Kentlake students to gain driving experience with professionals (March 28, Covington & Maple Valley Reporter - Maple Valley, Wash.)

March 29: Lynden High School
Lynden, Wash.

Lynden High School students learn that it's not so easy to text and drive on the distracted driving course.
Lynden High School students learn that it's not so easy to text and drive on the distracted driving course.

Media Coverage: Lynden students learn from mistakes at hands-on driving lesson (March 30, The Bellingham Herald - Bellingham, Wash.)

Tacoma, Washington

March 20-21: Fife High School
Fife, Wash.

Fife High School students discover what walking while impaired by drugs or alcohol would be like.
Fife High School students discover what walking while impaired by drugs or alcohol would be like.

Media Coverage: Ford Chooses Fife High for Driving Skills Tour (April 5, Fife Free Press)

March 23: South Kitsap High School
Port Orchard, Wash.

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/mar/23/south-kitsap-students-get-a-sobering-lesson/
Tour instructor Todd Cook discusses the finer points of vehicle handling with students from South Kitsap High School.

Media Coverage: South Kitsap students get a sobering lesson (March 23, Kitsap Sun)

Olympia, Washington

March 6 & 8: Centralia High School
Fords Prairie, Wash.

Centralia High School vice principal Ellen Termine was a big supporter of the Ford DSFL program.
Centralia High School vice principal Ellen Termine was a big supporter of the Ford DSFL program.

Media Coverage: Ford Drive Skills for Life at CHS (Centralia School District Website)

 

Salem, Oregon

Feb. 28: Santiam Christian High School
Adair Village, Ore.

More than 200 Santiam Christian School students listen in during a safe driving assembly.
More than 200 Santiam Christian School students listen in during a safe driving assembly.

Media Coverage: Steering a safer course (Feb. 29, Corvallis Gazette-Times - Corvallis, Ore.)

Feb. 29: John F. Kennedy High School
Mount Angel, Ore.

JFK students pose proudly after making it through the three hands-on driver training courses.
JFK students pose proudly after making it through the three hands-on driver training courses.

Media Coverage: Former race car driver teaches safety to Mt. Angel teens (Feb. 29, Statesman Journal - Salem, Ore.)

Bend, Oregon
Media Coverage: Ford Brings Driving Skills To Central Oregon Students (Feb. 14, 1340 KNBW - Bend, Ore.)

Feb. 14: Madras High School
Madras, Ore.

Under the eye of professional race car drivers, Madras students learn what it's like to walk and drive while legally drunk.
Under the eye of professional race car drivers, Madras students learn what it's like to walk and drive while legally drunk.

Media Coverage: Texting While Driving Put To The Test (Oregon DOT YouTube Channel)

Media Coverage: Students test their driving skills (Feb. 22, The Madras Pioneer)

Feb. 16: Summit High School
Bend, Ore.

Mike Speck, lead Ford DSFL driver, being interviewed by a local reporter.
Mike Speck, lead Ford DSFL driver, being interviewed by a local reporter.

Media Coverage: HS Students Get Life-Saving Driving Lessons (Feb. 16, KTVZ NewsChannel 21 - Bend, Ore.)

Medford, Oregon

Feb. 8: Cascade Christian High School
Medford, Ore.

Cascade Christian High School students line up in front of the Ford DSFL truck.
The program at Cascade Christian High School received a lot of media attention.

Media Coverage: Medford Students Learn Safe Driving (Feb. 8, KDRV-TV - Medford, Ore.)

Media Coverage: Road test: Safe-driving programs gives students a chance to see things differently (Feb. 9, Mail Tribune - Medford, Ore.)

Feb. 9: Eagle Point High School
Eagle Point, Ore.

Eagle Point High School students in front of the Ford DSFL truck.
Eagle Point High School students in front of the Ford DSFL truck.

Portland, Oregon

Jan. 31: Liberty High School
Hillsboro, Ore.

GHSA Chairman and Oregon Oregon Transportation Safety Division Administrator Troy Costales welcomes students to the morning assembly.
GHSA Chairman and Oregon Oregon Transportation Safety Division Administrator Troy Costales welcomes students to the morning assembly.

Media Coverage: High school students take hands-on drivers training course (Jan. 31, KOIN Local 6 - Portland, Ore.)

Media Coverage: Distracted driving lesson for local teens (Jan. 31, KPTV FOX 12 - Beaverton, Ore.)

Media Coverage: Some students just learning to drive get a hands-on crash course on safe driving - Interview with Mike Speck (Jan. 31, KBND 1110 AM - Bend, Ore.)

Feb. 2: Scappoose High School
Scappoose, Ore.

Scappoose High School Principal Eric Clenedin by the Ford Fiesta that is used for the Fatal Vision goggles course.
Scappoose High School Principal Eric Clenedin by the Ford Fiesta that is used for the Fatal Vision goggles course.


Media Coverage: Scappoose High School students tackle safe driving skills (Jan. 31, The Chronicle - St. Helens, Ore.)