Ford's free Driving Skills for Life is back, focused on night driving

Ford Australia has revived its free Driving Skills for Life program, following alarming TAC Victoria data that reveals P-platers are seven times more likely to be killed or injured when driving at night, compared to fully-licensed drivers.

This year, the program concentrates primarily on the nuances and risks associated with night-time driving.

In addition to the massively disproportionate risk to P-platers, data from the NSW government has indicated that approximately one-fifth of road fatalities in NSW are attributable to fatigue, with the probability of a fatigue-induced crash escalating by fourfold late in the night or early in the morning.

17

The onset of darker winter nights makes it even more critical to arm young motorists with skills and knowledge for maintaining road safety – particularly as the sun sets earlier in the winter months.

The DSFL program, run in partnership with training organisation Driving Solutions, is designed to go beyond the scope of typical L-Plate driver training, highlighting the perils of night driving on Australian roads.

It aims to equip drivers with enhanced skills in emergency braking, steering and vision, cornering, parking, and the understanding of fatigue's effects on driving, demonstrated through a unique 'fatigue suit'.

17

"What I see is kids who often have had very minimal night driving experience, and when you have difficult conditions – in the dark, when it’s raining, perhaps with friends in the car – and you combine that with less experience... it can make for a very dangerous situation," says James Stewart, Director at Driving Solutions.

"That’s what we want to tackle with Driving Skills For Life this year."

17

The Ford Driving Skills for Life initiative will run from June through September 2023, with program events scheduled across various regional and metropolitan sites in NSW, QLD, and VIC.

The complimentary program is open to drivers aged 16 to 24, who hold a valid learner’s permit or driver’s licence, with registrations now being accepted at www.FordDSFL.com.au [↗].