We can all remember first learning to drive: the excitement and nervousness that came with mastering a whole new set of skills in the driver’s seat. Getting a license gives you newfound freedom, but it also comes with a huge responsibility whenever you get behind the wheel.
That’s why Ford’s Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program travels across Canada helping newly licensed teen-age drivers have fun and grow as they improve their driving skills.
The DSFL program begins with a quick orientation, and then students participate in five groups of driving exercises.
Oversteering – when the rear end of the car breaks free and starts to slide. To correct an oversteer you:
- come off the gas
- look where you want the car to go and
- steer in that direction.
Hazard Recognition – avoiding sudden hazards that can appear in front of your car. The program teaches students to:
- look well ahead
- come off the gas and
- steer away from the hazard.
Speed Management – understanding a car’s current speed directly relates to how quickly you can safely stop it. To master speed management you:
- recognize a potential hazard
- apply maximum brake pressure
Distracted Driving – anything from talking or texting on a mobile device to passengers that create distractions for a driver. Students are taught to:
- keep your eyes on the road
- keep your hands on the wheel and
- focus on driving.
Impaired Driving – Peel Regional Police officers let students try on goggles to simulate the experience of driving while impaired. They emphasize three important points.
- think before you drink
- have a plan or
- have a designated driver.
According to Dave Drimmie, the DSFL Canadian Liaison, “Everything the students learn comes down to decision making. Making the right decision at the right time.”
To learn more about DSFL visit Driving Skills for Life or Ford.ca .
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