On July 25-26, B.R.A.K.E.S (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) will head to Ypsilanti to host its free life saving teen driver training program at The American Center For Mobility.
B.R.A.K.E.S was founded in 2008 by multi-time Top Fuel drag racing champion Doug Herbert after a car crash where his sons Jon and James Herbert passed. Following the crash, Herbert wanted to do something to help improve road safety so other families wouldn’t experience the same loss he did.
Doug Herbert founded B.R.A.K.E.S. to honor his sons who passed away in a car crash. Photo courtesy of Jeff Perlman
Since its founding, B.R.A.K.E.S. has trained over 165,000 teens and their parents. Graduates are 64% less likely to be involved in a car crash during their first three years of driving after completing the training, according to information on the B.R.A.K.E.S website.
Built into its curriculum, B.R.A.K.E.S replicates the five most dangerous behind the wheel driving experiences: Crash Avoidance and Slalom Curriculum, Distraction Exercises, Wheel Drop-Off Recovery, Panic Stop Exercises and Car Control and Recovery.
Over the weekend, B.R.A.K.E.S. will offer five 3-hour training sessions where teens and parents will experience scenarios through hands-on repetition and work with professional instructors to learn how to safely navigate these situations.
One of the five training topics that B.R.A.K.E.S. offers is crash avoidance training. Photo courtesy of Jeff Perlman.
“Teens learn because we make it fun and interesting. The instructors don’t talk down to the teens; they talk to the teens in a way that is welcoming, where they can learn, and if they need to be corrected, that's part of the process. We expect teens not to do things right because they’re just learning,” said B.R.A.K.E.S. Director of Public Relations Jeff Perlman. “They learn because the instructors are very engaging, comforting and encouraging.”
When participants first arrive, the session begins with an informational video about the organization's story and an overview of the training. Afterward, teens split off into their training groups while parents stay behind for an informational talk. The groups then come back together for hands-on training and end with a graduation ceremony.
“We get messages on social media, Facebook, and Messenger from parents, and sometimes teens, who say, ‘I’m alive today because of what I learned at B.R.A.K.E.S.’ And we’ve gotten it from people who just took the course two weeks ago to people who took the course 10 years ago,” Perlman said.
As a nonprofit, B.R.A.K.E.S. receives support from organizations like DENSO, which has helped fund several trainings throughout the year, and Kia Motors, which donates new vehicles to B.R.A.K.E.S. every year for training.
“They’ve all got the same passion behind it, which is Doug's story and what we are doing to make the roadway safer and to save lives,” Perlman said. “Students will learn skills in a 3-hour course that they will use for the rest of their lives.”
Although the program is free, a refundable $99 deposit is required to reserve a spot. For more information, visit their website or email info@putonthebrakes.org.
B.R.A.K.E.S. offers graduation ceremonies after each training session. Photo courtesy of Jeff Perlman
