Kansas City, MO - 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, and the Kansas and Missouri departments of transportation. The clinics will be held from 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. on May 13 and 14 at Manheim Kansas City, 3901 N Skiles Ave #9305, Kansas City, MO 64161. More information is available at www.drivingskillsforlife.com.
“Our goal in Missouri is for all users of the transportation system to reach their destination safely,” said Jon Nelson, MoDOT’s assistant to the state highway safety and traffic engineer. “This is a goal to which we can all contribute, and this event provides our newest drivers hands-on experience while also reminding them of the responsibility we all share when using the roadways. Everyone can do something to help eliminate traffic fatalities.”
Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, and teens ages 16-19 are three times as likely as those ages 20 and older to be in a fatal crash. However, roadway safety is about more than just the driver, and that’s underpinned by these alarming statistics:
- Pedestrian fatalities are on the rise. GHSA estimates that 7,435 pedestrians were struck and killed in 2021 – the highest number in 40 years.
- In the Kansas City area, there were 85 traffic fatalities in 2021, 19 of which were pedestrians.
Now in its 20th year, Ford Driving Skills for Life supports the goal of Vision Zero — to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries among all road users while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility. The program pairs newly licensed or permitted drivers with professional driving instructors for hands-on driving training in a safe, closed-course environment. 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, including pedestrian/cyclist education.
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Media are invited to attend the event. Please contact Stephanie Jarnagan, Ford Fund, 480-201-7572, Stephanie@thinkcommaz.com; or Adam Snider, GHSA 202.580.7930 asnider@ghsa.org