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."

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