‘All he did was get in a vehicle’: Mother turns grief into action during National Teen Safe Driving Week
Claire Elmer
(Update: adding interview with advocate, video)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Across the country — and right here in Central Oregon — new teen drivers are hitting the road every day. But safety remains a major concern. In 2023 alone, more than 2,600 people in the U.S. were killed in crashes involving teen drivers, according to national data.
This week marks National Teen Safe Driving Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the risks of inexperienced driving and promoting safe habits behind the wheel. For Tammy Gweedo McGee, that message is deeply personal.
McGee is the founder and executive director of the Gweedo Memorial Foundation — an organization she created in memory of her son, Conner.
“What happened to my baby shouldn’t have happened,” McGee said. “He was a typical teenager with great friends and great family. All he did was get in a vehicle.”
Conner, a 16-year-old honor student and dual-sport athlete, was killed along with two friends less than a mile from home. The driver was another teen — unlicensed, underage, and speeding at twice the legal limit.
“When you drive reckless, that’s not an accident. That’s a crash,” McGee said. “The driver didn’t wake up planning to kill himself and two of his friends, but the choices he made did that.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens. In Oregon, teens make up less than 7% of licensed drivers but are involved in nearly 20% of serious crashes. Police across Central Oregon say they continue to see many of the same risk factors — speeding, distractions, and multiple teen passengers.
McGee now uses her family’s story to encourage others to act. “I can’t bring him back,” she said, “but what I can do is help other people. We want parents and teens to sit down together. Have that difficult conversation. Be the parent, not the friend right now.”
Her message during Teen Safe Driving Week is simple: Speak up, model good habits, and never assume it can’t happen to you. Advocates believe with awareness, education, and honest discussions at home, more young lives can be saved.