Car crashes are the number one cause of death for teens today, says Doug Herbert, founder of B.R.A.K.E.S. Teen Pro-Active Driving School. Here, he shares how parents can help their teens develop good driving habits to keep them safe in the new year and beyond.
Concord, NC (December 2023)—When we make New Year’s resolutions, we’re usually thinking of how we can improve ourselves and our own life. Yet if we’re parents, nothing is more important than the wellbeing of our child. Right? That’s why Doug Herbert suggests making 2024 the year you take action to keep your teen driver safe, smart, healthy…and alive.
“Driving is one of the most dangerous things we do each day regardless of our age,” says Herbert, founder of B.R.A.K.E.S., a national free teen hands-on defensive driving program. “Yet we expect teens with little experience to navigate the road with the skill of a seasoned driver. They spend far more time training for sports than training to operate a vehicle.
“To keep them and other travelers safe, teens need more hands-on experience than they receive in drivers ed,” he adds. “Parents can, and should, play a big role in giving them that extra practice. And yet we rarely think about this serious responsibility—until it’s too late.”
If it sounds like this mission is personal for Herbert, that’s because it is. The former drag racer founded B.R.A.K.E.S.—which stands for Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe—after his two sons Jon and James died in a car crash in 2008. Determined to spare other parents the heartbreak he experienced, he dedicated his life to helping teens become safer drivers. To learn more about his story and his organization, visit www.putonthebrakes.org.
Here are some things you can do in 2024 to help your child become a better driver.
Learn the (scary) statistics. Parents have good reason to worry when their teenage child gets behind the wheel. The statistics about teen deaths from car crashes couldn’t be scarier:
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens (15 to 18 years old) in the United States.1 If 2,723 people died in a plane crash every year we would stop and do something about it, says Herbert, who is also a pilot.
- Almost half of teen drivers and passengers who died in car crashes in 2019 were not wearing their seatbelt.2
- In 2020 there were 2,738 young drivers who died in traffic crashes, a 14 percent increase from 2019.3
- Incidents of dropping wheels off the road are the number one cause of all fatal crashes.4
- Six out of ten teen crashes involve driver distraction.5
“Once you realize how at risk your beloved child actually is, and you really let the numbers sink in, you’ll realize you have to take action,” says Herbert.
Commit to regular practice ride-alongs. No matter how busy you are, make time to practice driving with your teen. Remember how little training they get behind the wheel, says Herbert. Teens need this one-on-one time driving with you to gain skills and confidence. (Sidenote, parents: This is your chance to connect with your kids; they can’t get out of the car!)
“Your job is to provide the education and the practice they need, so put practice times on your calendar and stick to them,” says Herbert. “If you write the commitment down, you’re much more likely to follow through. Even though it’s much easier to just drive places yourself and let them ride along, you’ll never regret the time and energy you spend helping them be the best driver possible. Make this your top priority.”
Don’t make driving with you something they dread. Your child will learn better in a calm, positive, encouraging environment. Don’t yell, lecture, or berate your teen if they make a driving mistake or for any reason. Simply explain what they should do next time and let them know you will help them practice until they master the skill or maneuver. Keeping an upbeat attitude makes the process easier for everyone—including you.
Insist on a hard and fast “No phones while driving” rule. Distracted drivers put themselves and others at risk, says Herbert.One in three teens who text say they have done so while driving. And research has found that dialing a phone number while driving increases the risk of crashing by six times, and texting while driving increases the risk by 23 times.6 Teach your kids to never use their phones for talking or texting while the car is in motion. And follow your own rules; don’t call or text your kids if you know they are driving and expect them to answer or respond.
Set an example you’ll be proud for your teen to follow. Sometimes parents do the very things they constantly warn their children not to do. You might even think that because you are more experienced you can bend the rules without compromising safety. Wrong! says Herbert. Distracted driving is something children learn from their parents. Look at your own driving habits, and the example you are setting for your teen. Are you really being as safe and responsible a driver as you expect your children to be? If not, start doing better. Don’t touch your phone or the radio, or fiddle with your Bluetooth while driving. Keep both hands on the wheel. Always look ahead and avoid distracting conversations.
Teach your teen codes and “tricks” to get out of dangerous passenger situations. Teens may find themselves in a situation where they feel unsafe riding as a passenger. To prepare them for this potential scenario, come up with a plan to get them to safety, says Herbert. Choose a secret code for your teen to text you if they feel they are in danger. When you see that code, call your child, and tell them they need to come home immediately, and that you will come to pick them up. Then your teen can ask the driver to let them out where they are. Another quick and effective method is to instruct your teen to say, “I think I’m going to throw up. Stop the car.”
Give them ONE “free pass.” Realistically, kids sometimes make mistakes. If they drink at a party, for example, the most important thing is making sure they get home safe. Let your kids know that they get one free pass where you will come to pick them up and drive them home without negative consequences. If your child uses their “free pass,” wait until the next day to discuss their bad decisions, and make sure they understand not to make them again.
“No one wants to think about worst-case scenarios, but it’s important to understand the risks when your child gets behind the wheel and to do all you can to set them up for success,” concludes Herbert. “Peace of mind comes from knowing they are trained and ready to respond in emergency situations. People always ask me, ‘What is the safest car to drive?’ The answer is one with a well-trained driver…I can’t think of a better gift to give your kids—and yourself—in 2024.”
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- NHTSA-DOT
- National Safety Council
- National Safety Council
- NHTSA-DOT
- AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
- NHTSA-DOT
About B.R.A.K.E.S:
B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) is a non-profit 501(c)3 founded in 2008 by NHRA Top Fuel drag racer Doug Herbert in memory of his sons, John and James, who were tragically killed in a car crash on January 26, 2008. His grief led to his resolve to create a driving program which would help to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak by teaching young drivers more conscientious and confident skills behind the wheel.
B.R.A.K.E.S. is a free hands-on defensive driving program. The curriculum includes an array of defensive driving techniques, including crash avoidance, distracted driving, drop wheel/off road recovery, and panic stops, as well as car control and recovery. By training and educating teenage drivers and their parents, the program aims to promote safe driving, to prevent injuries, and to save lives. B.R.A.K.E.S. hosts dozens of schools at locations across the U.S. every year.
Each three-hour session includes 30 minutes of classroom instruction followed by five hands-on driving exercises: Crash Avoidance/Slalom, Drop Wheel/Off Road Recovery, Distracted
Driving Awareness, Panic Braking/ABS Stop, and Car Control/Skid Recovery. Our schools are open to teens aged 15 to 19 with a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit and at least 30 hours’ experience behind the wheel. (Teens in North Carolina must be 16 to take the program.) Parents or legal guardians are required to attend B.R.A.K.E.S. with their teen. B.R.A.K.E.S. training is free, but requires a $99 refundable deposit, which minimizes no-shows and missed training opportunities.
To learn more, please visit
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
