DID YOU KNOW THAT IN MOST COUNTRIES, half of the alcohol or substance-impaired driving accidents consists of young people aged 15-24 years old? Or that teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents had a teenage passenger in the car at least 45% of the time? Indeed, more than any other age group, it has been found that teens are most likely to be involved in a single car crash by their own fault.
These chilling statistics may just seem like numbers, but in reality, represent real people whose young lives were cut short due to road and vehicular accidents. At the recent Ford Day 2005 celebrates held at the Fort Open Grounds in Taguig, road safety took on the voice of the youth–the country’s current and future drivers–via the official launching of the Ford Road Safety Youth Council.
The Ford Safety Youth Council is composed of 15 core students from the Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, UP Diliman, UP Los Banos, Asia Pacific College, Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA) and Thames Business School. During induction ceremonies at Ford Day, the Council presented their road safety plans for 2006 and official opened its doors for memberships to students aged 15-25 years old.
In an effort to reach out young people at the prime of their driving life, the Ford Road Safety Youth Council aims to encourage youth participation in developing programs which would instill discipline and create awareness on road safety. In 2006, the Council aims to have more than 300 members join its cause.
“Hundreds and thousands of people lose their lives everyday because of road accidents. Statistics show that young people between 17 and 24 are more than likely to be involved in road crashes than any other age group,” said Henry Co, President of Ford Group Philippines. “I am truly delighted with the Road Safety Youth Council as they are getting involved in helping us educate young people while at the same time understand the pleasures of safety driving.”
Road Safety takes center stage
The 2005 Ford Day festivities were marked by pocket activities that aimed to drive home the importance of road safety. Dr. Jean Marc-Olive of the World Health Organization (WHO) was the day’s guest of honor as he shared highlights of the WHO’s continuing partnership with Ford on Road Safety.
Three notable projects under taken by Ford in 2005 for its road safety initiatives included: setting aside P1,000.00 for every Ford and Mazda vehicle sold starting March 15, 2005 as seed money for Ford’s Road Safety Program; Responsibility in Driver Education (RIDE) program–a comprehensive training session on educating the country’s current and future drivers on the importance of practicing road safety. To date, Ford has successfully conducted the RIDE program to some 12 schools in Metro Manila, a number of Ford corporate clients, Ford employees and the media; Child Safety Seat Program – launched in October 2005, Ford is taking the head in promoting the use of child seats to lessen injuries and fatalities of children who are the most vulnerable in vehicular accidents. This program is being initiated by Ford despite no existing law in the country requiring the use of child safety seats.
Fun, Family and Ford
While road safety was the overall theme of the 2005 Ford Day, the event dubbed “Fun, Family, Ford” also featured the following activities: Ford RIDE Quiz Bee, Ultimate Road Safety Challenge, Road Safety Track, Focus Victory Lap (RC Challenge), Ford in Focus Photo Contest, Auto Maintenance Demos, Kiddie Activities such as “Name the Ford Safety Mascot” and “Road Safety Slogan-making Contest” Test Drives and Car Displays, Sales Booths, Accessories and Merchandise Booth, Ford/Mazda/Land Rover Clubs plus raffle, concert and fireworks display for the whole family.
The whole-day affair was officially inaugurated through ribbon-cutting by the Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Taguig City Mayor Sigfrido Tinga, World Health Organization Executive Dr. Jean Marc Olive and Ford Group Philippines president Henry Co.
Ford Day 2005 also brought together the well-loved brands under the Ford family namely Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover to make this annual event yet another meaningful combination of cars and a good cause.
Photos By Ulysses Ang
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