Keeping teens safe on the roads is the goal of four free upcoming half-day driving skills clinics sponsored by Ford in partnership with the Governors Highway Safety Association the Missouri Department of Transportation. The clinics will be held from 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. on April 23 and 24 at Manheim Kansas City, 3901 N Skiles Ave #9305, Kansas City, MO 64161. More information is available at www.drivingskillsforlife.com.
“Teen drivers are more likely than any other age group to be involved in a fatal crash due to inexperience and maturity,” said GHSA Senior Director of External Engagement Pam Shadel Fischer. “With programs like Ford Driving Skills for Life, we are reaching both new drivers and their parents with information that helps reduce risky driving behaviors.”
Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for novice teen drivers, and they are twice as likely as adult drivers to be in a fatal crash. Moreover, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic deaths reached a 13-year high in 2020, despite a decline in driving during the pandemic. NHTSA reported 38,824 people were killed on U.S. roadways in 2020 – the highest number since 2007 and an increase of 6.8% from 2019.
Now in its 19th year, Ford Driving Skills for Life pairs newly licensed or permitted drivers with professional driving instructors for hands-on driving training. Developed by Ford Fund, GHSA and a panel of safety experts, the program addresses issues and critical factors that influence crashes, including vehicle handling, hazard recognition, speed and space management, distracted driving and impaired driving. The free training clinics focus on necessary skills for safe driving beyond what is learned in traditional driver education courses and are an important step in the life-long process of learning to drive safely. Vehicles will be provided for this training. Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to attend the clinic and learn alongside participants. There will also be an information session for parents.
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Media are invited to attend the event. Please contact Stephanie Jarnagan, Ford Fund, 480-201-7572