NEW KENT, Va. — On October 6, 2023, Tammy Guido McGee launched a safety initiative aimed at student drivers in Virginia high school parking lots.
Guido McGee's mission comes after the loss of her son Connor, who died in a 2019 car crash involving an unlicensed and speeding driver. “My fight is for Connor. I am Connor's voice now,” she stated.
In honor of his memory, she is placing safety signs at various high schools. The signs feature messages such as “Food down, focus up” and “No license, no driving,” designed to resonate with teenagers.
Recently, seven signs were installed outside John Marshall High School with the assistance of the school's Assistant Principal Camille Calloway. “They'll be visible every day to any students,” Calloway confirmed.
So far, about 60 high schools in Virginia have participated in the initiative, with plans to reach every school in the state. The effort is in partnership with the Virginia DMV, encouraging schools to engage their students through a social media challenge that includes a $250 prize for homecoming activities. The signs also feature QR codes linking to safe driving resources.
While Guido McGee acknowledges the signs may not guarantee change, she hopes to provoke essential conversations. “All we have to do is impact one person,” she said, emphasizing her commitment to trauma prevention among young drivers.