NORTH CAROLINA — Even though less people are on the road due to the pandemic, North Carolina has seen a 12% increase in deadly teen car crashes so far this year.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, from January 1 to November 20, a total of 142 teens have lost their lives on North Carolina roads.
To help change this statistic, B.R.A.K.E.S (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) is providing free driving courses for teen drivers.
B.R.A.K.E.S. is a nonprofit 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 organization was started by NHRA drag racing star Doug Herbert, who lost his two young sons, Jon and James, in a tragic car crash in January of 2008. His grief led him to create a driving program to help prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak.
“What they’re getting is real life conditions in a controlled environment by the best people in the business as far as driving instruction goes,” says B.R.A.K.E.S. Spokesman Larry Dixon.
Some of the things teens learn during the four hour course are:
- Distracted Driving Awareness
- Panic Braking
- Crash Avoidance
- Car Control/Skid Recovery
- Drop-wheel/Off-road Recovery
“It was a really cool experience, kinda scary at first, but once you get the feeling of kinda losing control it’s not as scary, and when you start practicing how to correct it, it’s easier as you go,” says 16-year-old Aliyah Winans.
B.R.A.K.E.S. schools are held throughout the year at zMAX Dragway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, as well as at other locations across the country. For more information on schedules and registration, click here.