1,000 to a "Road Safety Fund" for every Ford and Mazda vehicle sold in the country. The funds will be used to educate drivers and promote the critical issue of road safety through training programs, research and studies.
RIDE will target the following markets: high school and college students, Ford dealerships and customers, Ford clubs and the general public, said Cherry Ramirez, Ford Philippines assistant vice-president for corporate and government affairs, who presented the company’s Road Safety Program for the year.
Ramirez said that Ford will conduct seminars in selected high schools and colleges in Metro Manila to reach the vulnerable prime market of young and future drivers.
"Each session will be designed for a specific audience to help them relate better to the topics. The seminars will include lectures on driving accident facts, road signs and common traffic violations, defensive driving, road hazards, driving etiquette and techniques, car conditions and understanding vehicle safety features," she said.
Under RIDE, Ford will also conduct seminars for customers, dealers and employees who will be educated about defensive driving techniques, handling emergency situations, vehicle safety and technology and hands-on exercises on parking, using anti-lock braking system, brakes, aqua planning and basic auto maintenance, apart from the road safety basics.
Ford Group Philippines president Henry Co said that the company’s project complements Ford Motor Company’s global effort of promoting road safety, and reinforcing their commitment to passenger and pedestrian safety.
"This project is a follow-up to the Road Safety activities that we rolled out in April 2004, wherein we want to reach out to more people and inform them about the importance of road safety and how they can practice safe driving. As one of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, we would like take on the responsibility of promoting road safety," Co said.
The road safety activities launched last year supported the World Health Organization (WHO)’s World Health Day on Road Safety.
The WHO maintains its concern on increasing figures of roadside injuries throughout the world, which claim the lives of some 1.2 million men, women and children and injuring millions of others, annually.
This year, Ford will strengthen its partnership with key government agencies and private organizations in preparing its road safety programs: Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Transportation and Communications, and Land Transportation Office.
