(PRWEB) August 11, 2005

Backseat Drivers is pleased to announce the launch of their teen driver safety monitoring program. The Memphis, Tennessee based company helps parents stay informed on how their teenager is driving, even when parents arenÂ’t in the car. Backseat Drivers provides a bumper sticker with a short ID number that asks concerned motorists to “Tell my parents how IÂ’m driving” and provides a website and toll-free number where they can report what they observe. Reports are forwarded to parents by email so they can discuss any feedback with their teen driver and work with them to improve safe driving skills. One of the programÂ’s main goals is to make teens think twice when they are behind the wheel — knowing that their parents might find out.

Company founder, Gretchen Stroud, a former high school teacher and new mom, developed the idea after seeing a teen driver speeding along the highway near her home. “It was completely unsafe; not only for that inexperienced driver, but also for all the other drivers on the road. Right after that I passed a tractor trailer that had a ‘How’s my driving?’ sticker on it and I thought ‘A-ha! This would be a great idea for teenage drivers!’” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United State, killing over 5,000 teens and injuring over 400,000 in 2003. “I know that when I was a teenager, I made some dangerous driving decisions and sometimes rode in the car with people who did, too. It is pretty much just luck that no one I know got seriously injured or worse during high school,” Stroud notes.

Backseat Drivers also offers a fundraising program for schools and community organizations. Stroud says, “Giving back to the communities we serve is very important to us. As a former teacher, I know that schools and groups are always looking for new and fun ways to raise money for supplies, trips, or other needs. I hope that we can help them raise some needed funds, while also making those neighborhoods safer for everyone. It can really be a win-win situation.”

Interested parties can find more information and sign up online at www.backseat-drivers.com.

Contact: Gretchen Stroud

(901) 326-8181

gstroud @ backseat-drivers.com

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