When I was little the question to me if I couldn’t drive was did you get your license from Sears and Robuck. It was a running joke in Charleston, SC if drive crazy. I learned how to drive in the country way before I could drive a car. I drove a tractor and a riding lawnmower at the age of 9ish so I was always driving something which helped me learn how to drive a real car. I admit I drove into a ditch a few times and hit a few mailboxes but eventually learned. Fast forward to me now having a 15-year-old new driver who doesn’t listen to me and thinks he knows it all. I know I don’t because I had no idea the dangers of driving and what teens have to deal with these days. I was able to attend the Ford Driving skills for life event over the weekend and I learned so much. First I want to tell you what I learned and then let you know how you can be a part of this program wherever you are.
Driving Skills for life
There are two things that cause teen accidents one is distracted driving which we all know with these phones it can be a huge problem but did you know that the other one is drowsiness in teens. Yes, teens are tired from school, practice, work, social life, etc. I had no idea about the second problem I mean I know they had a lot on their plates but I always think they can handle it their young. Nope, they can’t teens need a good night’s sleep. Here are some other things I learned when I went to the event
- teens can be distracted by others in their car so its best for them to have no more than 2 people in the car at a time
- teens mix prescription drugs with other things this can cause drowsiness if they aren’t paying attention to what they are putting in their bodies
- teens like to speed and if they are overconfident that they can drive they will speed even more
- distracted driving not only looking at texts but looking at directions even for a second can cause you to lose concentration
I am not a perfect driver and I was told that at the event lol. Look I do eat and drive which isn’t good because its a distraction but if I don’t eat while driving I won’t eat most days since I live in a car 2 days out of the week. I have seen people putting on makeup while driving even reading a whole book while driving I was appalled. We are all distracted sometimes even if it’s hearing bad news or not feeling well or being worried about something. A distraction can be dangerous and we all need to pay more attention.
*I don’t own the copyright to this song*
This is where the Ford Driving Skills for life come into play their mission is…
Ford Driving Skills for Life (Ford DSFL) was established in 2003 by Ford Motor Company Fund, the Governors Highway Safety Association, and a panel of safety experts to teach newly licensed teens the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what they learn in standard driver education programs. Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. Approximately 3,000 teens die annually in such crashes, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Ford DSFL program is international in scope touching not only the United States but many areas around the world. The basic premise behind the program is to provide a step in the learning process and teach new skills and information not currently shared with newly licensed drivers in basic driver education courses.
Training is conducted in both hands-on and web-based curriculum and the entire program is available at no cost. Training conducted under the Ford Driving Skills for Life program addresses both the inexperience factor as well as issues surrounding distracted driving. Results of this effort thus far have been outstanding. We encourage both teens and parents to engage in the instruction together.
Over the weekend my son got to drive his favorite car that he actually wants as his first car. He also learned how to look out for pedestrians on the street, how to make quick decisions that will save his life and the life of someone else, how to correct a car if it drifts off, and much much more. You can sign up on their site to see when this is coming to your area. It’s a must to attend for teens and adults. We learned so much, got to talk to cops and hear their stories (this is important as a parent to a black teen boy), we got to hear from race car drivers and the folks behind the entire program. Please go and take advantage of this free program if you can. I told my son I know it’s about driving the mustang for you but for me it’s the importance of learning new skills that can save your life and cause you to think before you do things when you start to drive alone.
Now it’s your turn. What tips can you give to new drivers? Are you a perfect driver?
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