Last Friday, Ford Viet Nam officially launched its ‘Driving Skills for Life’ (DSFL) programme in Da Nang in order to raise public awareness about traffic dangers and safe driving.

At the launching ceremony (Photo: sggp.org.vn)

This year’s programme aims to provide driving courses for at least 1,500 people.  This will bring the total number of beneficiaries to 13,000 since the programme began in 2008.

At the launching ceremony, the Ford Foundation and Ford Viet Nam presented 8 ‘drunk suits’ to the National Traffic Safety Committee in order to support driver training centres in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.

Also at the event, a spokesperson for the Ford Foundation announced that 50 smart cameras for traffic surveillance will be given to Da Nang.  The cameras will be installed at traffic intersections near local schools and in dense residential areas to increase traffic safety at these venues.  In addition, they will help the local authorities to monitor and deal with traffic violations, facilitate the planning of local traffic infrastructure, and support local tourism and cultural activities in the near future.

Mr Scott Chang, from the Ford Foundation in Asia-Pacific, remarked that the donation of smart cameras and the implementation of the DSFL programme are an opportunity for his foundation to realise its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for Vietnamese people and raising public awareness of safe driving.