Inventor of a Safer Drive

As new drivers, teenagers are more likely than any other age group to be involved in collisions caused by distractions like cell phones, passengers, or navigation systems, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Frightening facts like that are what prompted T.J. Evarts of Londonderry, New Hampshire, to take action. In 2010, Evarts and a group of friends invented the SMARTwheel—a device to keep drivers focused on the road. At the time, he was just 14 years old. 

The SMARTwheel is a steering-wheel cover that buzzes when it senses risky driving behaviors, such as taking one or both hands off the wheel. The clever invention caught a lot of people’s attention. T.J. and his friends were invited to demonstrate it for President Barack Obama at the 2010 White House Science Fair. Three years later, the group took its SMARTwheel for a spin on Shark Tank, a reality show where inventors pitch their ideas to a panel of investors. Evarts, now 20, has started his own company and is about to release the device for sale to the public. 

In 2010, I took part in a science and engineering competition where the theme was “driving safety.” In cars, technologies like cameras and sensors record speed and braking behaviors, but they don’t actively help drivers avoid collisions. For the competition, my team and I wanted to invent something that would alert drivers to dangerous situations and allow them to correct their behavior immediately. Our hope was that this real-time feedback would prevent accidents.

Inventions start with an idea but evolve over time. We came up with the idea for the SMARTwheel pretty quickly, but creating a real product has taken years. First, we came up with a prototype. Then we spent years developing and refining our initial model. Most recently, we’ve been getting feedback from parents and young drivers and incorporating it into the design to prepare the device for market. 

Early on, I was involved in the technical aspects of the SMARTwheel. I participated in science and technology competitions and did an internship with an engineer who taught me how to develop and produce my ideas. I helped create the device’s sensor technologies, hardware, and software. I also designed and programmed the first few versions of our mobile app. The app tracks risky driving behaviors so young drivers and their parents can review, discuss, and correct bad habits. I still work in software development now that we’ve formed the company. I draw on the expertise of my colleagues to make decisions about things like manufacturing, publicity, and design.

People want to see young inventors succeed and are usually willing to help however they can. But it can also be difficult for professionals to take teens seriously. Sometimes you have to prove yourself. If you’re serious and passionate about your idea, you can really inspire people. 

Don’t wait! Middle or high school is a great time to start on your invention. Parents and teachers can be your best mentors, and the financial risks are low. The rewards, on the other hand, might just change your life!