HOMETOWN NEWSMAKERS: Virginia mom who lost her teenage son in a car crash helps pass new law

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Virginia mom Tammy Guido McGee will never forget the day she lost her 16-year-old son, Conner, in a car crash in October, 2019.

He was riding with a friend who didn’t have a driver’s license.

Since her devastating loss, McGee has been an advocate for better driver education and tougher penalties for unlicensed drivers.

She has helped get several laws passed, including the latest law that just went into effect July 1, making it a misdemeanor to drive without a license in the Commonwealth.

According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles & VCU Studies, “Unlicensed teen drivers in Virginia are significantly more likely to be involved in nighttime or multiple-passenger crashes, often violating learner’s permit laws.”

Through the Gweedo Memorial Foundation, McGee also travels around the country to speak with teens and parents about safe driving habits.

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