NCSHP and B.R.A.K.E.S. for brakes driving school

The concept behind what was to eventually become B.R.A.K.E.S. began as a way for me to begin to cope with and process the sudden loss of my sons. I visited with my boys’ classmates, and, together, we developed the foundation of the program that would evolve into a charity with the mission to prevent injuries and save lives by training teens and their parents to be safer drivers. In fact, it was a group of Jon’s and James’ classmates who came up with the clever—and perfectly fitting—name for our program, which is actually an acronym for “Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe.”

At the beginning, B.R.A.K.E.S. was a local effort, focused on teaching advanced defensive driving skills to Charlotte-area teens in hopes of preventing my own friends and neighbors from experiencing the tragedy of losing a child. During those early days, NCSHP was right there by our side. They shared the shocking teen driving fatality statistics—back in 2008, car crashes caused more teen deaths than the next four causes combined, and it remains the number-one cause of death among teens to this day. They also helped us determine the most common causes of teen crashes, which would become the basis for our educational curriculum and behind-the-wheel driving exercises.

That growth within our state was fueled in part by the passion and dedication of the NCSHP. In addition to offering knowledge and expertise, the Troopers put in their own time to help turn our grassroots idea into a viable program. Several became B.R.A.K.E.S. instructors, helping to shape and deliver our lifesaving curriculum, and one, David “Fergo” Ferguson, who retired last year after a long and successful career with the NCSHP, became a true advocate and champion for us, breaking down doors and making connections that really helped move the program forward.

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