Just Drive

In mid-October, National Teen Driving Safety Week aims to educates teen drivers about unsafe driving distractions.
Recently released data shows a 33 percent increase in total fatal crashes involving drivers ages 15-19.

Tammy Guido-McGee lost her son to reckless driving two years ago and is now devoted to full time advocacy to honor her son, Connor “Gweedo” Guido. The Conner Gweedo Memorial Foundation lobbies for the prevention of unsafe driving for teenagers beyond the Peninsula and hopes to expand globally.

“Those are staggering numbers to think that with the loss of my son, these three boys that no one has learned from, and that is my push, that is my drive every day to get up because one death is too many. We have a responsibility to our children as parents to educate them,” she said.

Governor Ralph Northam signed a new law, known as “Connor’s Law” honoring the death of three young teenagers in a car accident, on March 12 The student driver involved obtained a school parking permit without a driver’s license. “Conner’s Law” limits public school parking passes to licensed drivers only. The law also revamps the driver education curriculum at public schools in Virginia to include the perils of distracted driving.

I hate the calling I’ve been given. It’s been hard every day but I do it for Connor, and I do it to make people understand that they are not invincible and there are consequences to choosing bad driving. I can’t bring Connor back but we can certainly help other people.”

Guido-McGee has advocated fiercely since the crash two years ago, and mostly recently has partnered with York County School Board, the York Poquoson Sheriff’s Department, and the Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO). YOVASO is a peer-to-peer partnership program for students. It provides free instruction packets that are mailed to high school resource officers. The materials challenge students to participate in virtual and in-person activities. This initiative is now implemented in York County Schools with support from the York County Sheriff’s Department.

“I am very excited about this. The program is not only for York County Schools, but for all schools. Hopefully other school districts will reach out to me to assist and educate them on this program and what we can do to provide service,” she said.

The YOVASO website shares a program named, “If You See Something, Say Something”, that allows adolescents to report bad behavior anonymously in Hampton Roads and regionally. “We want all high schools in the state of Virginia to use this program. It is free. They have campaigns and challenges the children can work with. This can be brought not only to schools but also churches with youth groups,” she added.

Guido-McGee plans to expand the safe driving initiative to middle schools, before students apply for their permits
Gweedo’s car is a mobile billboard for safe driving. She shows the car at York County schools on rotating days. Students announce the car’s safe driving message for events like homecoming and Halloween.