As Distracted Driving Awareness Month begins on Saturday, April 1, the importance of remaining focused behind the wheel will be emphasized this weekend, as the free national teen defensive driving program B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) holds training sessions at zMAX Dragway.

Car crashes are among the leading causes of death among teens. In response, B.R.A.K.E.S. graduates are 64 percent less likely to get in a crash within their first three years of driving, according to a study conducted by UNC-Charlotte.

Utilizing vehicles provided by Kia Motors, B.R.A.K.E.S. offers teens extensive behind-the-wheel instruction from professional trainers including current and former law enforcement officers and professional racing drivers, teaching the teens and their parents how to be safer on the road. Exercises include Distracted Driving Awareness, Panic Braking, Crash Avoidance, Drop-wheel/Off-road Recovery and Car Control/Skid Recovery.

The 501(c)(3) charity was founded by multi-time Top Fuel drag racing champion Doug Herbert in honor of his two sons, Jon and James, who lost their lives in a tragic car crash in 2008. Herbert turned that personal tragedy into a lifesaving mission that has trained more than 110,000 teens and their parents.

Location: zMax Dragway
6570 Bruton Smith Blvd Concord, NC 28027

Dates: April 1 (Saturday) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Times: April 2 (Sunday) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Media: Jeff Perlman
Contact: 818.317.3070
Website: https://putonthebrakes.org/