Mom and Teen Son Invention Helps Identify Teen Drivers

teen driving, teen driver, teen driving school, teen driving law, teen driving statistics, teen driving accident, Rookie Driver, Austin Fortenbacher, car magnet, Corinne Fortenbacher, driver awareness, driver safety product
Corinne and Austin Fortenbacher

HERE IS OUR STORY

I have to admit, I was nervous the first time I sat in the passenger seat of my car with my 15-year-old son Austin at the wheel. He had just gotten his driving permit and he wanted to drive home. Austin was doing a good job cautiously navigating thru one of the busiest intersections in our town and into a construction area. With my encouragement he drove at a slow speed. A semi tractor trailer behind us must have felt we were driving to slow, so he drove very close to the back of our car, eventually blowing his horn in frustration at Austin’s slow inexperienced pace. Of course, this startled both of us and I quickly turned around to see what the semi truck driver was doing, which in turn scared Austin, affecting his concentration and the safety of not only us but all vehicles around us.

I immediately knew the trouble was that the semi truck driver had no way of knowing Austin was a new student driver, and neither did any of the other drivers around us. Had the other drivers known Austin was a “Rookie Driver”, they would have naturally had more patience and would have given him more space to navigate thru the construction zone.

This frightening scenario is played out millions of times annually as nearly 3 million new teen drivers hit the road in the United States each year with their parents at their side, as they begin their journey from student driver to a fully licensed driver.

After this first driving experience, I began searching for something to place on our car that would alert other drivers that a new driver was at the wheel. What I found were “student driver” stickers and magnets that resembled the ones used by the driving schools and Austin REALLY did not want to drive around with one of those on our car. Austin suggested that we work together to develop a system to alert other drivers that a new teen driver is at the wheel …with a design that would be better than what is available now AND acceptable to teens…and I wanted something that was easily removed when Austin was not driving.

We bounced ideas and designs off Austin’s friends with the goal of creating a name AND a logo that teens think is ‘cooler’ than 'student driver' and at the same time, is bold and noticeable. After many name suggestions, Rookie Driver® was chosen as the most universally recognized words describing a new driver…and yet was acceptable to the teens, versus the ‘student’ or ‘new’ driver stickers they had seen. AND, we wanted to create a very distinctive logo and design shape to ensure that not just the words 'Rookie Driver', but also the logo or 'symbol' would be universally and instantly recognized by other drivers…a logo which automatically makes other drivers aware that there is a teen driver behind the wheel. And that is how 'Rookie Driver'® products were launched.

But we wanted to do more than just sell a great new safety product. We wanted to share all aspects of teen driver safety. So we developed and launched the RookieDriver.Net website….not just to promote 'Rookie Driver®' products; but to promote other aspects of teen driver safety and awareness. We have multiple links, which are extremely helpful and beneficial to both teens and parents in regards to many aspects of teen driving safety.

'Rookie Driver®' products are a win-win situation for everyone involved – the other drivers are alerted to your teens new driver status, parents feel safer with their teen at the wheel knowing others are aware of their inexperience, and the teens are not embarrassed by using the products because they like the design.

'Rookie Driver®' magnets and stickers will set expectations for other drivers, increase driver’s awareness, reduce driver frustration and help reduce the likelihood of accidents. When your teen has gained the experience and you both are comfortable, you simply retire the products from your vehicle.

Austin and I enjoy working together to help improve safety and awareness for all new teen drivers. We encourage each of you to share our goal and promote new teen driver awareness in a combined effort to increase every family’s safety.