Ford Planning on Expanding “Skill for Life Program” in High Schools

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - March 19, 2013 - PRLog -- Ford is working to keep the roads safer by educating high-school students through its award-winning Ford Driving Skills for Life program (https://www.drivingskillsforlife.com/). The program involves hands-on learning with driving challenges that focus on driver distraction, space management, hazard awareness, and vehicle handling. Arlington Heights Ford is proud of the work that Ford is doing to educate young drivers in helping to keep themselves, their passengers, and other drivers safe.

Ford currently has nine models, ranging from sedans to crossover SUVs, that have been chosen by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (http://www.iihs.org/ratings/tsp_current.aspx) as 2013 Top Safety Picks. A vehicle is only as safe as its driver, though, which is why educating young drivers is important.

“Inexperience is the leading cause of crashes in young drivers, and Ford Driving Skills for Life includes a variety of engaging and targeted methods to deliver key skill sets that boost young drivers’ confidence and knowledge. Our mission is to make the roads safer for everyone,”  said Jim Vella, President of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.

Currently in its tenth year, the Ford Driving Skills for Life program is planning on visiting almost 200 high-schools in the United States, with plans to connect with more than 40,000 drivers. Stops on the trip include high schools in California, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, and Arizona.

The DSFL program works closely with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Plan to bring other safety programs into high schools. Since they began six years ago, both additional programs have helped to reduce teen deaths on the road significantly.

All nine 2013 Top Safety Pick Ford vehicles can be found at Arlington Heights Ford. Available safety features on these models include:

•          Front and side curtain airbags

•         The LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren), allowing parents to quickly, easily, and safely secure children's car seats

•         Ford's AdvanceTrac vehicle stability control system

•         A tire pressure monitoring system
To learn more about these options, drivers are encouraged to contact the sales team (http://www.ahford.com/page/ContactUsForm3/master/secondar...) at Arlington Heights Ford. Located at 801 W Dundee Road, Arlington Heights Ford continues to be one of the area's most trusted Ford dealerships.