All About Kia and B.R.A.K.E.S. Teen Pro-Active Driving School

2015 kia soul

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 19th to the 25th), and Kia has expanded their partnership with the B.R.A.K.E.S (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) Teen Pro-Active Driving School in order to help provide additional free defensive driving classes across the country. Accidents are currently the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, children between the ages of 16 and 19 are the group of drivers with the highest accident rates, and the risk of having an accident in your first three years of driving is 89.2%. Together Kia and B.R.A.K.E.S will provide an estimated 200 teens and their parents with free defensive driving instruction.

More than 12,000 teens have already graduated from the program, which includes an intensive half-day of training with a low three-to-one student to teacher ratio. Kia is the official vehicle sponsor, and students drive new Kia vehicles while learning about topics such as distracted driving, emergency braking with the anti-lock braking (ABS) system, evasive maneuvering, accident avoidance, and skid control, all in a controlled and safe environment.

Teenagers whose parents set driving rules and monitor their activities are 71% less likely to drive while intoxicated, half as likely to crash, 30% less likely to use a cell phone while driving, and less inclined to speed. Because of this, parents also participate in the courses in order to ensure that the proper techniques are being reinforced.

Upcoming training dates include October 25th to 26th in Concord, North Carolina, November 1st to 2nd in Ocoee, Florida, November 15th to 16th in Concord, North Carolina, December 6th to 7th in Concord, North Carolina, and December 20th to 21st in Pomona, California. For more information on the B.R.A.K.E.S. Teen Pro-Active Driving School, upcoming training dates, or to donate or get involved, visit http://www.putonthebrakes.com/.