North Dakota teens participate in Ford Driving Skills for Life in Fargo
For Immediate Release: Aug 07 2019
FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) today hosted a free, one-day Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) safety event for more than 140 licensed drivers ages 14-18 at the Fargo Armed Forces Reserve Center Complex.
Teens had the opportunity to drive through a closed course with various types of distractions, view the consequences of not wearing a seat belt through the rollover simulator, and experience virtual simulators that focused on impaired driving, distracted driving, and the importance of wearing your seat belt. Each scenario allowed the driver to feel or witness the real-life effect their choices can have in a controlled environment.
Other important stations included learned to parallel park and a car care clinic which focused in part on teaching teens what do if their vehicle gets a flat tire. In addition to these interactive stations, drivers also had the opportunity to participate in the North Dakota Safety Council’s Alive at 25 defensive driving course.
In 2018 in North Dakota, teen drivers age 14-19 accounted for 5% of all licensed drivers but are behind the wheel in nearly 21% of all crashes. Teen drivers in North Dakota were involved in 10% of fatal crashes for the same period. Because of these statistics, it is important to continually educate teen drivers and provide them with opportunities to enhance their driving skills to move toward the goal of Vision Zero: zero fatalities and serious injuries from motor vehicle crashes on North Dakota roads.
This safety event was in partnership with the North Dakota Department of Transportation, North Dakota Safety Council – Alive at 25, Fargo Police Department, West Fargo Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Department, North Dakota Highway Patrol, Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department, Dickinson Police Department, North Dakota Parks & Rec, F-M Ambulance, North Dakota Motorcycle Safety Program, The Auto Club- AAA North Dakota, U-Haul, North Dakota Motor Carriers Association, Midnite Express, Inc., Luther Family Ford.
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