”PETE TALK” AT THE PETERSEN
NHRA drag racer and B.R.A.K.E.S. founder Doug Herbert

By Reed Berry The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is well known for its impressive collection of fabulous vehicles and automotive-related events. Now, the Petersen will host a number of interesting and informative speakers, as well. Inspired by “Ted Talks,” the Petersen has introduced the new “Pete Talk” series. The first speaker in the series is Doug Herbert, NHRA drag racing pro and the founder of B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe), a national defensive driving program designed to educate teens and their parents about the importance of safe, responsible driving through a four-hour course that includes both classroom and behind-the-wheel training. B.R.A.K.E.S. is an awesome program that, unfortunately, resulted from a horrific family tragedy. Doug’s sons, Jon, 17, and James, 12, were killed in a car crash in 2008. Doug wasted no time creating a pro-active driving program for teens, giving them the tools to make intelligent decisions behind the wheel. Doug has taken the stage and is giving attendees an overview of the B.R.A.K.E.S. program, as well as discussing important safe driving topics such as distracted driving, as well as the dangers of driving buzzed, drunk or high. Some of the local teens taking the course at Fairplex in Pomona are on hand for Doug’s presentation, as well. Teens are not allowed to take the course alone. They must be accompanied by at least one parent. This is not just because the parent must sign the necessary legal forms for their teen to participate in the course, but also so the parent will take a more active role in their teen’s driver education and provide better guidance in the future. Unlike some safe driving programs that are good but can be quite costly, the B.R.A.K.E.S. program is free of charge to participants, relying on corporate sponsors and donations from the public. Kia, Coca-Cola and Starbucks are among the supporters of this outstanding program, just to name a few. For info on upcoming events at the Petersen Museum: http://www.petersen.org For more info on B.R.A.K.E.S., go to putonthebrakes.org.