B.R.A.K.E.S. comes to teach Life-saving Driving Techniques (Oct 11-12) - Registration Open

Teens and their parents can sign up now for a free, safe driving skills course taught by some of the nation’s top drivers on a mission to save lives. Put on the B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe), started by champion top fuel drag racer Doug Herbert after he lost his sons in a 2008 highway accident, will be at the El Toro (6990 Marine Way, Irvine, CA 92618) for four half-day training sessions beginning Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12.

Registration is open at PutOnTheBRAKES.org.

“We’ve trained 11,000 teenagers already, but it’s not enough,” Herbert says. “Five-thousand other families each year are still receiving the call I did, so the work of B.R.A.K.E.S. will continue in an effort to save lives and bring that number down.

Some of the things the teens will work on during B.R.A.K.E.S. training include panic breaking, distracted driving, what to do when a wheel drops off the road and how to recover from a skid, among others. “The driving book tells you to turn the wheel during a skid, but it doesn’t tell you what to do after that,” Herbert said. “They get that experience, and that teaches them something.”

Attendees must be 15 – 19 years old with a permit or driver’s license and 30+ hours of seat time. A parent is required to attend with their teen. After registering, a confirmation will be sent requesting a $99 refundable check to hold a spot. Classes usually fill up fast. For more information on how to bring B.R.A.K.E.S. to additional communities or to make a tax-deductible donation to B.R.A.K.E.S, which is a 501 (c)(3), please log on to PutOnTheBRAKES.org.

Check out the following NBC Nightly News “Making a Difference” link for more on the B.R.A.K.E.S. program: http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nightly-news/professional-drag-racer-finds-new-way-to-help-young-drivers-173991491751