An Eagle Idaho start-up. Get on board.
By Natalia DiGiosia
Auto accidents are the number one top cause of death for teens in the United States (NHTSA). How’s My Teen Driver (HMTD), a company founded by two fathers from Eagle, who both have driving aged teens, has emerged with a mission to empower teenagers to become responsible drivers.
How does HMTD work? Parents subscribe to the HMTD program and register their teen’s vehicle in their database. Subscribers will receive an Enrollment Kit in the mail which includes stickers and a QR code to be placed on the teen’s vehicle. Parents who enroll their teens into the HMTD network receive real time, community-sourced information on their teen’s driving habits. Reports are made anonymously via telephone or through the HMTD website.
How’s My Teen Driver believes in the principle that visibility can help prevent unnecessary accidents and deaths. The visibility of the HMTD sticker on a teen’s vehicle is a simple way to tell the community when to take extra precautions, give more space, or pay closer attention.
Teens themselves are onboard with the concept. Sydney and Autumn, two teenagers in Eagle, Idaho are planning on signing up for the program after finishing driver’s ed. Sydney shares, “I’m nervous about driving. When my mom mentioned a
QR Code that would help monitor mine and other kids’ driving, I felt safer. We watched some pretty scary videos in driver’s ed.” Autumn adds on, “I’m a good driver. I scored pretty high, but that’s because I’ve been driving on the farm since I was ten. My classmates, however, didn’t have that advantage. Anything that helps us stay accountable is good.”
The app offers a sense of security and encourages responsible driving practices that make parents feel at ease too. One 5-star review from a parent says, “This is an amazing product. Knowing that there are multiple sets of eyes on my teen driver, along with a place to report their driving behavior, gives me peace of mind. You can never be too safe with your kids.”
Founder Matt Carter, co-founder Andrew Fullmer, and chief operations officer Cyndi Pham are committed to the cause. Fullmer says, “Having a visual cue that activates and empowers the Road Guardian network can help save lives in a way that the most advanced technology can’t because there is no replacement for watchful eyes.”
Their team is already talking with big players such as IndyCar 500, MLB, Amazon, YouTubers, and national publications to help spread the message about this teen driving movement. This Eagle based company’s unique approach has attracted supporters who are passionate about its cause-driven nature.
Visit howsmyteendriver.com to enroll.
