Doug Herbert’s B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) is a GuideStar Platinum-rated 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to prevent injuries and Safe driving, save lives by training and educating teenage drivers and their parents about the importance of safe and responsible driving. B.R.A.K.E.S. was founded in 2008 after Top Fuel drag racer Doug Herbert lost his two young sons, Jon and James, in a tragic car crash. Today, more than 36,000 teens from 45 different states and five countries – and their parents – have graduated from the B.R.A.K.E.S by teen driver contract.’ intensive half-day training course, which is free of charge and features hands-on skills exercises taught by professional instructors in a fleet of new vehicles donated by Kia Motors America.
Car crashes are the number-one cause of death among teens. B.R.A.K.E.S. provides the foundational skills a new driver needs to make good decisions behind the wheel and reduce the risk of a crash. Courses include distracted driving awareness, panic braking, drop-wheel/off-road recovery, crash avoidance and car control/skid recovery – all of the biggest causes of crashes for new drivers. Other educational elements often include ‘Big Rig’ Teen safety, first responder vehicle extrication demonstration, and what to do in the event of a traffic stop.
Each B.R.A.K.E.S. session includes four hours of Free driving training, starting with a shortclassroom presentation followed by nearly three hours behind the wheel of new Kia vehicles. Teens who have taken the B.R.A.K.E.S. course are 64 percent less likely to be involved in a car crash, as determined by an independent study.
B.R.A.K.E.S. is NOT Driver’s Ed. It is a FREE, hands-on, Advanced Driving Course program taught by professional instructors, including current and former members of law enforcement, professional racers and stunt drivers. B.R.A.K.E.S. maintains a low three-to-one student-to-instructor ratio to maximize educational effectiveness.
B.R.A.K.E.S. 