Chilhowee Park in Knoxville, Tennessee, will host Free Teen Defensive Driving Program Nov. 19-20, led by drag racing champion Doug Herbert, on a mission to save lives.
Fast Facts:
- Program takes place Nov. 19-20 at Chilhowee Park, Tennessee
- Free defensive driving program with vehicles provided by Kia Motors America
- Teens who graduate B.R.A.K.E.S. are approximately 64 percent less likely to get into a car crash within the first three years of driving
CONCORD, N.C. (October 20, 2016) – B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe), a non-profit offering free defensive driver training to teens and their parents, announced its scheduled visit to Chilhowee Park, Tennessee, November 19-20. B.R.A.K.E.S. classes are four hours, beginning with a classroom session followed by behind-the-wheel driving exercises including panic braking, crash avoidance and car control, and distracted driving avoidance, all free of charge and taught by professional instructors.
“Car crashes are the number-one cause of death among teens in this country, and we started B.R.A.K.E.S. eight years ago to try and do something about that,” said Doug Herbert, who founded B.R.A.K.E.S. after losing his two young sons, Jon and James, in a tragic car crash in 2008. “During our first year we trained about 50 kids. By the end of 2016 we hope to have instructed over 30,000 teens.”
B.R.A.K.E.S. has instructed over 20,000 teens since its inception.
Space is limited and seats are filling quickly. Online registration is available at www.putonthebrakes.org.
ABOUT B.R.A.K.E.S.
Doug Herbert’s B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to prevent injuries and save lives by training and educating teenage drivers and their parents about the importance of safe and responsible driving. The Concord, North Carolina Teen Pro-Active Defensive Driving Program was founded in 2008 after Top Fuel drag racer Doug Herbert lost his two young sons, Jon and James, in a tragic car crash. Although devastated by his loss, Doug decided to turn his grief into something positive and created a driving program in the hopes of preventing other families from experiencing similar tragedy. Over 20,000 teens from over 35 different states and three countries – and their parents – have graduated from the B.R.A.K.E.S.’ 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. The course maintains a low three-to-one student-to-instructor ration and requires a least one parent to attend with each teen.
