Newsletter - Fall 2025

NEXT STOPS

PARTNERING UP

Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) continues to expand its reach by offering the program to State Highway Safety Offices that are willing to sponsor the program. This year, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is sponsoring a Ford DSFL two-day training event in San Antonio. Additionally, the California Office of Traffic Safety (CA OTS) recently sponsored a two-day Ford DSFL program at Angel Stadium on Aug. 16-17, 2025.  

“The Governors Highway Safety Association, through our partnership with Ford Philanthropy, is giving State Highway Safety Offices the opportunity to bring this potentially life-saving experience to more teens in more areas," said GHSA CEO Jonathan Adkins.

Thank you to CA OTS and TxDOT for partnering with us to bring our training sessions to your respective states!

To keep up with the latest news about upcoming Ford Driving Skills for Life tour stops, sign up to Get Connected and keep checking our Hands-On Training registration page.

SPECK CHECK

Leading by Good Example

Since 2003, the Ford Driving Skills for Life program has offered free-of-charge driver education to newly permitted and licensed drivers across the U.S. While our focus is on teaching teens behind-the-wheel skills, we also know that parents/caregivers will likely be the No. 1 influencing factor in how their teens drive and even how they go about the entire act of mobility – walking, riding, scooting, driving. Over the last few years, we have started to offer parents/caregivers some coaching tips to help them be that much better of an influence for the new drivers in their charge. 

This is the first installment of several that will each touch on a specific coaching tip. Perhaps the most critical tip that is simple in concept, but that can very difficult in practice, is leading by good example. In a nutshell, go about your mobility journey doing things you want your new drivers to do and don't do the things that you want them to avoid.

Studies strongly suggest that once the baby seat is turned around and faces you, your young one will be absorbing all that you do behind the wheel. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to teach them how to drive at a very young age.

Here are some common sense examples of dos and don’ts that will let you effectively lead by good example:

• Don't drive distracted
• Don't drive impaired
• Don't drive angry
• Do drive with empathy for others
• Do completely stop at stop signs and look both ways
• Do wear your seat belt 

Again, pretty simple in concept. But this can be very tough to do in practice on a regular basis.

Hope this helps on your coaching journey and good luck!

SAY CHEESE

Sam VarnHagen has been a part of the Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) team since year one, investing more than two decades of his career capturing teens behind the wheel. In his own words, he enjoys “trying to do my small part to help us all be safer and more responsible drivers.”

Sam has literally taken thousands of photos at Ford DSFL events over the years – many of which are kept by families across the country as keepsake memories! We had to share this rare glimpse of Sam in front of the camera at our Cleveland event. Thank you for your dedication to Ford DSFL, Sam!

MILEAGE MARKER

So far in 2025, the Ford Driving Skills for Life team has trained:

• 2,870 individuals, including 1,573 teens and 1,297 adults
• 46% of program participants reported a combined annual family income of less than $100,000
  
  

Ford Driving Skills for Life Mission

To serve as a critical step in the lifelong learning process of safe driving by providing new drivers advanced real world training, practical education opportunities and innovative programming that is fun and engaging.