Ford to offer free teen driver training in Buffalo area

Ford Philanthropy, GHSA and New York’s traffic safety committee will host four no-cost Ford Driving Skills for Life clinics for teen drivers at SUNY Erie North Campus in Williamsville on July 25-26, 2026. The hands-on program is designed to help newly licensed and permitted drivers build hazard recognition, vehicle control and safer decision-making skills.

Why it matters: - Teen drivers are among the least experienced people on the road, and Ford is using a no-cost clinic to teach skills that standard driver’s education may not fully cover. - The program is aimed at reducing crashes tied to distraction, poor vehicle control and unsafe decisions. - Parents, guardians and youth groups get a free training option with limited space and required advance registration.

What happened: - Ford Philanthropy, the Governors Highway Safety Association and the New York Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee are bringing four Ford Driving Skills for Life clinics to SUNY Erie North Campus in Williamsville, New York. - The sessions are scheduled for July 25-26, 2026. - The program is open to newly licensed or permitted teen drivers. - Registration is available at training registration.

The details: - Ford Driving Skills for Life launched in 2003. - Professional instructors lead behind-the-wheel training for inexperienced drivers. - Each session combines instruction with hands-on exercises in a controlled environment. - Teens practice hazard recognition, vehicle handling, skid control, oversteering response and hard braking. - The curriculum also covers strategies for avoiding distractions and staying focused. - A Safety in Mobility module teaches awareness of pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooter riders. - The training is complimentary. - Ford Philanthropy says the Buffalo program is designed to give teens experience with advanced driving techniques they may not encounter in traditional driver’s education. - The program is working this year with the Police Athletic League of Buffalo, the Buffalo Urban League and Blue Star Families to train teens. - Spots remain available for the general public.

Between the lines: - Ford is leaning on its Buffalo ties to frame the event as both a community safety effort and a local investment. - The company has more than 700 employees at its Buffalo Stamping Plant, which has operated since 1950. - NYS Department of Motor Vehicles Acting Commissioner Christian Jackstadt said the return of the program to western New York gives young drivers experience with realistic scenarios and qualified instruction. - The event also broadens Ford’s reach by pairing corporate philanthropy with local safety groups and youth organizations.

What's next: - Teens and families who want to attend still need to register in advance because space is limited. - Ford Philanthropy is expected to continue using Driving Skills for Life as a hands-on safety program for new drivers. - The clinic may serve as a template for future community-based teen driver training events in other markets.

The bottom line: - Ford is bringing free, practical driver training to western New York to help teens build safer habits before they face real-world road hazards.