Ford’s initiative for safe driving

Ford has trained 3,071 drivers in safe driving techniques in the country last year. Over 10,000 were trained in Asia-Pacific. The Driving Skills for Life programme involves a mix of classroom and practical sessions to promote safe, economic and eco-friendly driving. Around 85 sessions were held across several driver groups in New Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Special sessions were held for corporates such as Genpact and HSBC, traffic police, Defence personnel, rotary clubs, fleet owners and dealers, said a press release. The programme was launched in August 2009; since then over 7,000 people have been trained in the country. Next year, the programme aims to expand to tier-II and III cities and small towns. Ford India has also rolled out an online campaign to enrol and train new drivers, and a handbook for first-time car buyers on safe driving. Similar programmes also exist in China, Taiwan, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. So far, over 60,000 drivers have participated in the programme across Asia.