About 200 Local Teens to Attend ‘Ford Driving Skills for Life’ Event

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs has teamed up with Ford Motor Co. and the Governor’s Highway Safety Association to bring the Ford Driving Skills for Life event to Montgomery’s Paterson Field tomorrow, April 21.

With additional registrations this week, about 200 teen drivers, primarily from Montgomery, Prattville and Wetumpka, have now reserved a spot to get hands-on driving experience to stay safe behind the wheel at the event’s morning and afternoon sessions.

The training, led by drivers with racing and stunt backgrounds, will focus on hazard recognition, vehicle handling, space and speed management, and distracted and impaired driving.

Teens will complete four custom driving courses. For impaired driving simulation, participants will wear a “drunk driving suit” and a new “drugged driving suit” to gain perspective on how being impaired can slow movement, reduce coordination, blur vision and make tasks difficult. They also will learn the importance of seat belt use, pedestrian safety and about the risks of drowsy driving. As state administrator of several highway safety programs, ADECA coordinated the Montgomery stop of the event with the City of Montgomery allowing use of the Paterson Field parking lot.