B.R.A.K.E.S. Life-saving Driving Skills Training for Teens

Teens and their parents can sign up now through July 25 for a free, safe driving skills course taught by some of the nation’s top drivers on a mission to save lives.  Be Responsible and Put On the Brakes (B.R.A.K.E.S.), started by champion top fuel drag racer Doug Herbert after he lost his sons in a 2008 highway accident, will be at the Atlanta Dragway for four half-day training sessions Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27.  

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 program: http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nightly-news/professional-drag-racer-finds-new-way-to-help-young-drivers-