Holland Reporter

Grand Haven Department of Public Safety recently issued the following announcement.

B.R.A.K.E.S. Teams With Shape Corp. To Present  Free National Teen Defensive Driving School  In Grand Haven on September 25 & 26 Weekend 

GRAND HAVEN, MI (August 25, 2021) -- The B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) national teen defensive driving program today announced it has teamed with Shape Corp. to present free advanced training sessions in Grand Haven, Michigan during the weekend of September 25 & 26. 

Training sessions will be held at Shape Corp., located at 14600 172nd Avenue in Grand Haven.  Registration is accessible via: https://bit.ly/2WbTD3Q 

"Shape is proud to support the B.R.A.K.E.S. program in keeping our teens safe on the road. As a leader in developing impact energy management solutions for the automotive industry, we really connected with this program," said Randy Pappal, vice president of purchasing, supply chain and business development. "We see the significant value in helping teach practical, safe driving behaviors for real life scenarios. As a whole, the program benefits our communities across the country." 

Utilizing vehicles provided by Kia Motors, the B.R.A.K.E.S. program offers teens extensive behind-the-wheel instruction from professional trainers including current and former law enforcement officers as well as 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 fact: Car crashes are the number-one cause of death among teens, ending more lives every day than murder, suicide or disease. The result: B.R.A.K.E.S. graduates are 64 percent less likely to get in a crash within their first three years of driving. 

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 45,000 teens across the country.  

The training programs will take place on Saturday, September 25 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, September 26 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be held at Shape Corp., 14600 172nd Avenue in Grand Haven. Registration for the free program is accessible at www.putonthebrakes.org. 

“Support from corporate partners like Shape Corp. is invaluable in the amazing growth of our program,” said Herbert. “We deeply appreciate Shape Corp.’s role in presenting these training sessions to teens and parents in Grand Haven, especially as we further our presence in Michigan in 2021 as well as the years ahead.” 

About B.R.A.K.E.S. 

Doug Herbert’s B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) is a GuideStar Platinum-rated 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. B.R.A.K.E.S. was founded in 2008 after Top Fuel drag racer Doug Herbert lost his two young sons, Jon and James, in a tragic car crash. Today, more than 45,000 teens from 45 different states and five 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. 

For more information, including a complete schedule of events, and to register for a school, please visit www.putonthebrakes.org. 

Original source can be found here.