'Green' driving programme for SA
2010-08-31 08:56
A Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme was launched in South Africa last week to promote eco driving and to tackle the country’s poor road-safety record.
Championed by Ford Motor Company of South Africa (FMCSA), DFSL is said to be the first of its kind for South Africa, bringing environmental concerns to the forefront.
“The driving programmes generally available in South Africa are either directly meant to promote the performance of a specific vehicle brand, or fall short to promote fuel efficient and eco driving in the tough conditions that exist on our roads,” explained Jeff Nemeth, FMCSA president and CEO.
The driver education course mixes classroom and practical training to help increase awareness of safe driving techniques that also help improve fuel efficiency, and ultimately minimise the spread of CO2 emissions. FMCSA will initially roll the programme out to dealers, employees and fleet customers, before it is made available to the general public.
The programme also looks at different tips to avoid distractions while driving, optimise field of vision and to stay safe, under the slogan: “Smart driving, protecting lives, saving fuel.”
Nemeth said the DSFL is applicable to all South African drivers and incorporates safety, fuel efficiency and environmentally conscious driving. He said environmental driving “has been overlooked in South Africa for way too long”.
“Although the government’s pending carbon emissions tax is a step in the right direction, we believe that programmes like DSFL will go even further in teaching South Africans about the importance of reducing our emissions, and give us ways to practically achieve this,” said Nemeth.
