Corinne Fortenbacher’s drive to keep her son safe behind the wheel has grown into a business that is gaining national exposure.
The Spring Lake family has designed magnetic decals for cars that identify teen drivers. But they aren’t just any magnets. They are “cool,” unlike many of the other student-driving magnets on the market, says Fortenbacher’s teenage son, Austin.
Supporters say the magnets let other drivers know to back off, and that helps teens develop their driving skills.
It all started with a near-collision in May 2006.
Austin had just received his learner’s permit in Grand Haven.
With his mother in the passenger’s seat, they approached a construction zone when a truck driver pulled up on Fortenbacher’s rear bumper and honked his horn. That forced Austin into a rookie mistake: He took his eyes off the road when he turned to see the truck.
The car swerved, and the Fortenbachers barely escaped an accident.
When they got home, his mother got on the Internet and found bumper stickers that said “student driver in training.” The Grand Haven YMCA also issues student-driver magnets.
“Austin thought they were stupid. He said, `If I have to put that on my car, I just won’t drive.”’
So they agreed to design one that Austin and his friends would think was cool.
There are three versions: “Rookie Driver in Training,” “Rookie Driver” and “New Driver.”
Photo from RookieDriver.net.
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