Courtney Force New Face of Ford Driving Skills for Life, Ford Motor Company Fund’s Teen Outreach Program
. DSFL helps young drivers improve their skills in four key areas: 1) Hazard Recognition; 2) Vehicle Handling; 3) Speed Management; and 4) Space Management. It’s a perfect fit for Courtney, who has logged plenty of hours behind the wheel of her Ford Mustang and Ford Mustang Funny Car – both of which demand skill in those four areas.
. DSFL was established by Ford Motor Company Fund, the Governors Highway Safety Association and a panel of safety experts in 2003 to teach newly licensed teens the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what they learn in standard driver education programs.
. Vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of teenagers in America. Nearly 5,000 teens die annually in such accidents, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Statistics demonstrate that teen involvement in crashes declines considerably as young drivers gain experience. Teens can study up at https://www.drivingskillsforlife.com/ www.drivingskillsforlife.com.
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[/media-credit]DEARBORN, Mich., July 30, 2011 – When Courtney Force was 15 and learning to drive, her parents John and Laurie – especially Laurie – taught her to drive slowly. Slowly as in speed, of course. But they also slowly took her through basic driving skills that helped the Southern California teenager learn her car and the ways of the road by heart, internalizing driving skills mandatory for navigating the mega-highways of Los Angeles and Orange County.
Now Courtney, 23, of Yorba Linda, Calif. hopes to teach those same skills she learned from her parents years ago to teenagers around the United States as the new face of Ford Motor Company Fund’s Driving Skills for Life (DSFL).
Established in 2003, DSFL was established 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.
Courtney, who has also taken baby steps through the ranks of professional drag racing and hopes to follow her father and sister Ashley into the NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car category, is excited to be an ambassador for the cause. Especially since her mom gave her such great advice.
“She taught me how to drive her Ford Excursion,” Courtney said. “It was a larger car than most of my friends were learning to drive in. I was 15 trying to park my mom’s Ford Excursion and driving around town. But she was the one that got me learning the basics. I was actually glad that she put me in a larger car. I think learning in a larger car; it was easy to drive anything else after that.”
Vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of teenagers in America. Nearly 5,000 teens die annually in such accidents, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Because of inexperience, many teens lack the skills and knowledge required to be safe drivers. Statistics demonstrate that teen involvement in crashes declines considerably as young drivers gain experience.
DSFL helps young drivers improve their skills in four key areas: 1) Hazard Recognition; 2) Vehicle Handling; 3) Speed Management; and 4) Space Management. The program is a perfect fit for Courtney, who has logged plenty of hours behind the wheel of her Ford Mustang and Ford Mustang Funny Car, both of which require skill and experience in those four areas.
“We at Ford Driving Skills for Life are pleased to partner with Courtney Force in our joint effort to spread the word on teen safe driving,” said Jim Graham, Manager, Ford Driving Skills for Life. “Ford has had a long relationship with the Force family and this addition just furthers that partnership. We could not be more pleased to have such a talented driver as Courtney joining our team.”
About Ford Motor Company and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services are committed to creating opportunities that promote corporate citizenship, philanthropy, volunteerism and cultural diversity for those who live in the communities where Ford operates. Established in 1949, and made possible by funding from Ford Motor Company, the Ford Motor Company Fund supports initiatives and institutions that foster innovative education, auto-related safety, and American heritage and legacy. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, which provides high school students with academically rigorous 21st century learning experiences, and Ford Driving Skills for Life – a teen-focused auto safety initiative. The Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, continues Ford’s legacy of caring worldwide. Through the Volunteer Corps, Ford employees and retirees participate in a wide range of volunteer projects in their communities. For more information on programs made possible by the Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, visit www.corporate.ford.com.
About the Governors Highway Safety Association
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSAR) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit http://www.ghsa.org/ www.ghsa.org.
About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
