Ford Motor Company continued its efforts to raise road safety awareness in Malaysia through its global Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme, recently hosting workshops for students at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
University students from IIUM were the latest to participate in Ford’s DSFL programme, following sessions with the German Malaysian Institute, Taylor’s University and Malaysian Multimedia University.
“Driving Skills for Life is a hands-on driver training programme focused on raising awareness of driver and road safety,” said David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.
As with all DSFL workshops, they are provided for free, with the university sessions being specially tailored to address the risks that young drivers face on the road, such as dealing with unexpected situations, the dangers of distracted driving such as use of mobile phones while behind the wheel, hazard recognition, speed management and the importance of ensuring child seats are securely fastened.
Participants also gained valuable safe driving knowledge from a range of topics that covered steering control, under-steer and over-steer, tips for highway driving and driving in the rain. The DSFL programme encourages safe driving by equipping participants to make the correct decisions when behind the wheel, to reduce the chance of accidents occurring.
“Most accidents can be prevented. This is why Ford is passionate about raising public awareness on road safety and providing driver education through Driving Skills for Life,” added Westerman.
“Being a newly licensed driver, my confidence increased after attending DSFL. The session really helped me with skills to stay calm even when in emergency situations – and I learned how to appropriately apply ABS braking without losing control,” said Ain Syafiqah Binti Za’aba, one of the DSFL participants from International Islamic University Malaysia and a third year Bachelor of Computer and Information Engineering student.
Another student, Nur Ashra Binti Arshad undertaking her Bachelor in Human Sciences added, “DSFL was an eye opener and it is a fantastic programme. Before attending the workshop, I never knew the right way to hold the steering wheel or how to manoeuvre a vehicle safely through corners. The instructors made learning about safe driving skills fun, and I will definitely recommend my friends join.”
The programme is also useful as a refresher for more experienced drivers, with Ford recently hosting more than 100 owners from a range of Ford owner’s clubs for intensive training sessions.
DSFL is Ford’s flagship global corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. In Asia, Ford DSFL is now in its ninth successful year of training licensed drivers of all ages. In addition to Malaysia, DSFL training is provided in China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
