Women in the driving seat at Ford’s Driving Skills for Life
- 24 competition winners from the UAE ExpatWoman.com website attended Ford’s Driving Skills for Life event and experienced safety tips behind the wheels of the all-new the 2015 Ford Mustang, the new 2015 Expedition, and EcoSport
- Professional driving instructors highlighted the dangers of driving while distracted by children
- Road accidents are the number one cause of death for children under the age of 14 in the UAE
DUBAI, UAE- April 30, 2015- Every parent knows that children can cause chaos and it doesn’t stop once they are in the car. That’s why Ford Middle East partnered with popular UAE website ExpatWoman.com to hold its latest Driving Skills for Life at the Dubai Autodrome to coincide with upcoming U.S, Mother’s Day celebrations.
The event highlighted the dangers of distraction, sleep deprivation and stress mothers face when behind the wheel, shuttling children from the school gates to their hobbies and birthday parties. It also highlighted the role Ford’s in-car technology can play when used to support the driving habits of responsible motorists, including an introduction to Blind Spot Information System ® (BLIS), Park Assist and SYNC® with MyFord Touch®.
“When it comes to being a new mother, doing everyday tasks while only half awake is commonplace. However, fatigue doesn’t just affect energy levels; it also increases irritability and stress, altering hazard perception and making drivers more prone to accidents,” said Sue Nigoghossian, General Manager, Communications at Ford Middle East and North Africa .
“Regardless of how technologically advanced the vehicle is, safety begins with the driver. That’s why Ford has tailored this Driving Skills for Life event specifically to the needs of mothers. Following the success of other editions around the world we are creating awareness of the dangers parents face on the road every day, as well as training them to overcome them,” Nigoghossian added.
Professional driving instructors were on hand to deliver a number of sessions designed to test driving skills and educate the mothers on how to simultaneously handle the road and a car full of children. Activities included a distraction test, parking with the aid of Park Assist, impaired vision demonstrations and car seat safety tasks.
The drivers participated in a series of challenges while behind the wheels of Ford’s new 2015 Expedition, the 2015 Mustang and the 2015 Ford EcoSport.
Safety awareness
Tragically, road accidents are the number one cause of death for children under the age of 14 in the UAE, according to figures from the UAE Ministry of Interior.
More than 8,000 people die on the roads in the GCC every year and another 60,000 are injured, many of them critically. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that by 2020, road traffic injuries will be the third leading cause of disability adjusted years of life lost in the Middle East. “Today, Ford vehicles offer customers smart technologies that truly revolutionize the driving experience, help drivers to drive safely and even avoid accidents,” added Nigoghossian.
“The new 2015 Expedition includes such technologies as the SYNC with MyFordTouch, passive entry with push-button start and Blind Spot Information System with cross traffic alert. The all-new 2015 Mustang is the safest Mustang ever, featuring special driver assist and new airbag technologies and the new EcoSport boasts electronic brake assist, rear parking sensors, and a configurable speed alarm. We remain focused and committed to bring high end technologies that will help make motoring safer,” said Nigoghossian.
Safe Driving Solutions
Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) was established in 2003 by Ford Motor Company and a panel of safety experts from Governors Highway Safety Association, USA, to teach newly licensed youth the necessary skills for safe driving, above and beyond the skills learnt in standard driver education programmes.
In 2013, Ford Middle East brought the Ford Driving Skills for Life programme to the Middle East to help young drivers improve their skills and help reduce the incidence of road accidents.