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Impact Your World
BRAKES Safe Driving Program - Manheim
Doug Herbert, a professional drag racer, lost both of his sons in a reckless driving accident in 2008, prompting the initiation of the BRAKES program. BRAKES is a hands-on driving course designed to teach young drivers safe driving techniques and to prevent future accidents.
BRAKES stands for Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe. The purpose of the program is to raise awareness about safe driving among teens, and it focuses on teaching new drivers how to react in panic situations that are the primary cause of car accidents.
Following several teen automobile accidents that occurred in the town of Manheim, the local Lions Club decided to bring the BRAKES program to the Manheim community in the spring of 2012.
This event took place at the Manheim Auto Auction and included four of the offered driving courses: the accident avoidance course, the panic stop, the wet skid recovery, and the distraction course. In addition, a BRAKES instructor discussed proper driving techniques such as seat and hand positioning, pedal input, and eye scanning that drivers should practice when on the road.
Each BRAKES participant received approximately three hours of training with a professional driving instructor. During this time, the drivers were able to go through each of the different courses multiple times; the courses are meant to simulate actual driving situations that cause the majority of automobile accidents.
BRAKES coordinator Cascie Kirk described the importance of having a program like BRAKES within the community, “It’s definitely a positive impact for not just the parents, but the teens, the communities, wherever, you know, whatever city or state that we’re in. It’s teaching kids how to drive safely and responsibly, and it’s teaching them defensive driving techniques.”
Hopefully bringing BRAKES to Manheim will begin a legacy of aware young drivers within the community and help to ensure that everyone comes home safely.
BRAKES stands for Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe. The purpose of the program is to raise awareness about safe driving among teens, and it focuses on teaching new drivers how to react in panic situations that are the primary cause of car accidents.
Following several teen automobile accidents that occurred in the town of Manheim, the local Lions Club decided to bring the BRAKES program to the Manheim community in the spring of 2012.
This event took place at the Manheim Auto Auction and included four of the offered driving courses: the accident avoidance course, the panic stop, the wet skid recovery, and the distraction course. In addition, a BRAKES instructor discussed proper driving techniques such as seat and hand positioning, pedal input, and eye scanning that drivers should practice when on the road.
Each BRAKES participant received approximately three hours of training with a professional driving instructor. During this time, the drivers were able to go through each of the different courses multiple times; the courses are meant to simulate actual driving situations that cause the majority of automobile accidents.
BRAKES coordinator Cascie Kirk described the importance of having a program like BRAKES within the community, “It’s definitely a positive impact for not just the parents, but the teens, the communities, wherever, you know, whatever city or state that we’re in. It’s teaching kids how to drive safely and responsibly, and it’s teaching them defensive driving techniques.”
Hopefully bringing BRAKES to Manheim will begin a legacy of aware young drivers within the community and help to ensure that everyone comes home safely.
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