- Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) addresses the major factors that contribute to South Africa’s tragic number of road accidents, injuries and deaths
- Innovative driver training and awareness programme hosted for media at Killarney Raceway in Cape Town
- Focus placed on the life-threatening impacts of fatigue, drinking/drug use and driving, as well as being distracted behind the wheel – specifically using a cellphone
- Buckle up – the driver and all passengers should be wearing their seatbelts at all times!
In the build-up to the peak year-end festive season when traffic volumes increase dramatically – as do the number of road accidents and resulting injuries and deaths – Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA), hosted its final Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) driver training programme of 2019 with media at Killarney Raceway in Cape Town today.
DSFL is Ford’s flagship road safety campaign which was launched in South Africa in 2010. It has been rolled out to a further seven markets in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), comprising Nigeria, Angola, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Madagascar.
To date, more than 4 000 drivers have benefitted from the DSFL courses which are offered free of charge to customers in these markets. Globally, over 1-million drivers have been trained by the DSFL team.
“South Africa has one of the world’s highest number of traffic accidents, with over 14 000 people dying on our roads each year*,” says Neale Hill, MD of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA). “This is a national tragedy and has been so for many years, so it’s essential that we play our part in educating drivers to be more aware, to drive more responsibly and contribute towards improving road safety.”
The multi-faceted DSFL programme for attending media addressed the leading causes of collisions, including driver fatigue, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, being distracted when behind the wheel such as using a cellphones, as well as driving on loose gravel roads.
Participants had the opportunity to drive a variety of Ford vehicles in these eye-opening and informative exercises, including a Mustang, the Kuga and Everest sport utility vehicles (SUVs). The high-tech Ranger Wildtrak and the immensely capable Ranger Raptor proved their mettle on the less-predictable road surfaces.
“Through introducing media to our Driving Skills for Life programme, we are hoping to reach a large number of motorists across the country and convey the message of the critical role that every road user plays in reducing the number of people that are injured or die on our roads every year,” Hill adds.
Figures released by the Department of Transport show that during last year’s Festive Season, from 1 December 2018 to 8 January 2019, 1 612 people died as a result of traffic accidents**.
“Driving demands your full attention, and every person that climbs into the driver’s seat needs to take responsibility for their actions and safety,” Hill states.
This includes not driving when you’re tired – ensure that you have a good sleep before departing, or stop along the way to rest. Make sure that the diver and all passengers wear their safety belts at all times, which will ensure that they benefit from the vehicle’s built-in safety features that are designed to protect the occupants in a collision.
If you’re going to drink, hand over your vehicle’s keys to a responsible person who isn’t consuming alcohol to ensure that you get home safely. The same applies to drugs, and heavy medication which can inhibit your abilities. It’s simply not worth the risk you pose to your life, and that of other innocent motorists and pedestrians. Alternatively, arrange for one of the many convenient online ride-hailing services.
Texting or using a cellphone while driving is recognised around the world as one of the leading causes of collisions – so park your phone and focus on the road ahead at all times!
Also make sure your vehicle is in tip-top condition before departing on any journey. Check that the vehicle’s lights, indicators and windscreen wipers are all in proper working order. Examine your tyres for excessive wear or damage – and if they’re getting close to the 1 mm minimum tread depth, it’s time to get a new set of tyres for your car, as the handling and grip levels will be severely compromised, particularly in wet conditions.
Don’t forget to check your vehicle’s tyre pressures regularly, as low pressures will result in excessive wear, increased fuel consumption, and will increase the risk of a tyre blow-out. Be sure to pump your tyres up if the vehicle is heavily loaded, and if you’re towing a caravan or trailer make sure those tyres are examined too.
If in doubt, have your vehicle checked by a reputable dealer, service centre or roadworthy testing facility – with many of these outlets offering free safety checks during December. Ford is providing such a service to Ford owners. For more information, contact your local Ford dealer.
“It’s not just drivers and passengers that are at risk, as pedestrians account for around 40-percent of fatalities, so we advise people to wear bright or reflective materials at night to ensure they can be seen by motorists,” says Hill.
“We encourage every road user to focus on their safety and that of those around them this Festive Season,” he concludes. “Let’s make this holiday period one to remember, for all the right reasons!”
For more information on Driving Skills for Life, visit: www.ford.co.za/about-ford/driving-skills/
Provided by Ford South Africa
