B.R.A.K.E.S. conducting teen safe-driving schools

B.R.A.K.E.S., the non-profit foundation founded by National Hot Rod Association driver Doug Herbert, is conducting 18 driving schools at zMAX Dragway through November.

Herbert founded B.R.A.K.E.S., an advocacy organization for safe driving, after the deaths of his two sons in a Cornelius automobile wreck.

The foundation also plans to offer safe driver training to teens in many other areas of the country this year, Herbert said.

“2009 was a very successful year for B.R.A.K.E.S. and the Teen Pro-Active Driving School,” he said. “And as the word gets out, the demand for more schools has been tremendous, so we have responded for this year.”

Herbert said B.R.A.K.E.S. started a waiting list at the end of 2009 and ended up with about 400 families trying to get into the school.

“Our goal is to provide free hands-on training to as many teens as possible,” he said.

The B.R.A.K.E.S. Teen Pro-Active Driving School uses professional driving instructors to train teenagers on key driving techniques, including accident avoidance, emergency lane change, panic stops and skidding.

B.R.A.K.E.S. will also offer scholarships for training by the Petty Safe Driving Program in Atlanta, Ga., Orlando, Fla., and Englishtown, N.J. Interested parents and teens can obtain a list of dates and locations, register for a school and download an application at www.putonthebrakes.org and by calling 704-732-8950.

For more details about the Petty Safe Driving Program, visit www.1800bepetty.com/safedriving.