Ford’s Driving Skills for Life Programme Prepares Drivers Ahead of Long Weekend

Ahead of one of the most destructive and dangerous weekends on South African roads, Ford’s Driving Skills for Life programme reaffirms key criteria to arrive alive. 

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Ensuring motorists are equipped with necessary and potentially life-saving skills over the long weekend period, Ford’s Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme mentions some key skills to remember when hitting the road.

Since the inception of Ford’s Driving Skills for Life in 2010 over 9 000 South African drivers have been trained, helping to reduce fatalities on our roads, despite the increasing number of registered learner drivers and licensed drivers. A report released by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) shows that the number of learner driving licences issued increased by 8 079 (25.74%) from 1 081 615 in December 2021 to 1 089 694 in December 2022. The number of driving licences issued increased by 481 231 (3.34%) from 14 416 294 in December 2021 to 14 897 525 in December 2022.

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However, despite these increases, programs like DSFL appear to be playing an important role in reducing fatal accidents. The number of fatal crashes decreased by 7% from 1 395 during 2021/22 to 1 299 in 2022/23 whilst the number of fatalities decreased by 14% from 1 808 during festive period 2021/22 to 1 560 during festive period 2022/23. The most affected road user group during festive period 2022/23 were pedestrians, increasing from 36% to 41% of all road users.

“Safety remains a top priority for Ford, and initiatives like DSFL can significantly reduce accidents, boost drivers’ road knowledge, and enhance their confidence,” says Derek Kirkby, Training Director at MasterDrive, which runs DSFL for Ford in South Africa. “DSFL plays a vital role in making roads safer, for drivers and pedestrians, especially during peak holiday periods.”

DSFL campaigns raise awareness on child car seat safety, passenger safety, distracted driving and the perils of drinking and driving, as well as hijack extraction. Notably, the program uses ‘Drunk Goggles’ to simulate impaired vision and judgment, highlighting the