Through his years of piloting a Top Fuel dragster in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Doug Herbert has attained a level of notoriety and accomplishment most can only dream of. None of the notoriety or accomplishment, however, can compare with the love he has for sons Jon,17, and James,12, who were killed in an automobile accident in January 2008.

Following the accident, Herbert transferred some of the love and energy he has for his children into preventing other families from enduring such grief by creating BRAKES – Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe – to prevent more teen driving deaths and injuries by educating teens and their parents on the consequences of unsafe driving.

“No parent should ever receive the call I received in late January,” said Herbert. “There is no worse feeling than to find out your children have lost their lives in an accident that could have been prevented.”

Herbert makes it a point to impress upon students and teenagers that fast driving has its appropriate place, as long as it is not on the street with other drivers.

“I race cars and drive a Top Fuel dragster, one of the quickest accelerating machines on the planet,” said the veteran driver and heartbroken father. “That doesn’t mean I drive fast or race on public roads. It’s just too dangerous. If you want to drive fast, take it to the track where there are less distractions and safety crews are there watching just in case something happens.”

On Wednesday, May 14, Herbert will share the BRAKES message with a captive audience of teenagers from North Mecklenburg High School, partnering with NASCAR driver Elliot Sadler, team owner Ray Evernham, and Allstate Insurance Company for the Allstate Teen Safe Driving Pit Stop, encouraging this group of teens to drive responsibly.

The Teen Safe Driving Pit Stop program is sponsored by Allstate and is highlighted by Gillett Evernham Motorsports drivers visiting high schools in race markets to talk to teens and their parents about issues related to teen safe driving, a perfect opportunity to partner with fellow racer Herbert in the Charlotte area.

The Allstate Teen Safe Driving Pit Stop with Doug Herbert, Elliot Sadler and Ray Evernham will take place at North Mecklenburg High School on Wednesday, May 14, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

BRAKES is a safe driving foundation inspired by the loss of Doug Herbert’s two sons, Jon,17, and James,12, in a tragic automobile accident in January 2008. BRAKES (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe), the name chosen by Jon’s senior classmates at SouthLake Christian Academy, is dedicated to educating teen drivers on safe driving and to ultimately save lives. Put on the Brakes, the charitable foundation behind BRAKES, is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.putonthebrakes.com