Free defensive driving class for teens comes to Jefferson City

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A free national teen defensive driving program, B.R.A.K.E.S., is coming to Jefferson City next month.

The program will hold training sessions at the Missouri Emergency Vehicle Operation Course training center on July 9 and 10.

The leading cause of death for ages 15 to 19 is vehicle crashes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Missouri State Highway Patrol statistics show that crashes involving young drivers are down from this time last year but the number of fatal crashes involving young drivers is higher.

B.R.A.K.E.S. stands for Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe. The organization says its mission since 2008 is to change national statistics and teach teens how to be safer on the road.

Teens ages 15 to 20 who sign up for the program will get extensive training behind-the-wheel from expert trainers such as former law enforcement officers and professional race car drivers.

B.R.A.K.E.S. says the training sessions will last three hours and will include distracted driving awareness, panic braking, crash avoidance, off-road recovery and skid recovery for both teens and parents.

B.R.A.K.E.S. spokesman Jeff Perlman says the program is confident its training is effective. He says an independent study showed that within three years, program graduates are 64% less likely to get in a car crash.

"We know that B.R.A.K.E.S. makes the roadway safer and is saving lives and we want to keep going and make Missouri roads safer," Perlman said.

The program is free but requires a $99 refundable deposit.

Parents can sign up online until spots fill up.