LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A national organization made a stop in Louisville this weekend, on a mission to save lives. The teen defensive driving program known as B.R.A.K.E.S was in Louisville, teaching teens safe driving habits.
Katie Gall got behind the wheel with instructors to learn how to stay safe on the road.
“We went through three courses. We did skidding, learn how to get out of uncomfortable situations, especially here in Louisville that we are going to have to go through and we learned how to apply the brakes and to quickly get out of, like if we go off the road and stuff like that,” said Katie, a 16-year-old driver.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 12% of accidents involving young drivers resulted in fatalities in Kentucky. Katie said after today, she feels like a safer driver.
“I feel like if I didn’t take this course, then if I was in the real world and this happened, I wouldn’t know what to do and I’d start freaking out,” she said. “Now that I did this here, I’ll be able to, like, apply those measures.”
Her father said anytime she gets behind the wheel, he can’t sleep until she gets home.
“You’re worried about her getting home, so anything I could do to make sure that she gets home and it reinforces some of the things that I tell her on a day-to-day basis. You know, that’s my number one priority is getting her home safe and things aren’t right unless she’s home,” said Art Gall, Katie's father.
Katie took numerous laps around the course until she perfected every maneuver. She advised other teens to practice safe driving habits.
“Don’t let others distract you and don’t drink and drive,” she said.
The nonprofit was founded by Doug Herbert, former drag racing champion, after he lost his two sons in a car crash. The organization’s mission is to save lives by teaching responsible driving.
“When the teen goes through B.R.A.K.E.S., you’re 64% less likely be involved in a crash in the next three years. What we’re doing is we’re giving them a chance to develop good driving habits and continue those as their driving career continues,” said Don Hughes, the central region manager at B.R.A.K.E.S.
This is the first time the program came to Louisville. Hughes said there were over 150 sign ups for the free event. Hughes said one of the biggest takeaways for student drivers should be paying attention to what’s on the road.
“Eyes up, phone down. What’s out in front of them, that’s where their future is. If their eyes are up at the top half of that windshield, they’ll be able to drive a straighter truer line and they will have more time to react if something does happen in front of their path,” Hughes said.
Hughes said he hopes to make this an annual event in Kentucky.