‘Driving Skills for Life’ Programme Promotes Safe Driving Behaviours

As part of the effort to promote safe driving behaviour and road safety awareness in Malaysia, Ford and Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) recently organised a safe driver training programme for Ford’s corporate partners through Ford’s global Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme.

More than 30 licensed drivers from corporate partners comprising telecommunications and utilities companies participated in a half-day workshop at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).

Malaysia has one of the highest vehicle ownership rates in the region, with high traffic accident rates recorded daily in Malaysia. Yet, the awareness of basic road safety is still lacking among Malaysians.

According to the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), more than 43 percent of Malaysian drivers use their mobile phones while driving and only less than 10% of rear passenger wear seatbelt.

“Ford Driving Skills for Life Programme provides useful tools and resources to help driver understand many unpredictable scenarios that could happen on the road while equipping them with knowledge to tackle the situations accordingly,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.

The workshop was provided free of charge and addressed various driver risks with trainings focusing in four main areas:

• Distractions – Making smart decisions behind the wheel to limit distractions and stay focused on the task of driving
• Hazard recognition – How to scan for trouble approaching intersections and safety zones
• Speed and space management – Learning how to adjust speed to maintain space around, ahead and behind a vehicle while avoiding being rear-ended
• Vehicles handling – Understanding the vehicle’s capability and learning to better control the vehicle by leveraging its safety features such as Autonomous Emergency Breaking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning.

Conducted through a mix of classroom and practical training sessions, the workshop also featured a Ranger-based model used by these drivers on a daily basis, to relate and stimulate close to real-life hands-on driving experience.

An emphasis on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or medication was also incorporated as part of the programme.

This included having participants wear specially designed goggles that help simulate the experience of driving while movement, coordination and alertness are impaired.