Woburn Memorial High School Students Participate in the Survive the Drive LEARN Club

WOBURN – Superintendent Matthew Crowley would like to share that Woburn Memorial High School students have been pledging to arrive alive every time by participating in the school’s Survive the Drive LEARN club. 

Survive the Drive LEARN is a teen driving program that promotes safe drive and ride tips to stop impaired driving crashes. The club was created in memory of WMHS students Jamie Lawton and Cassandra Donovan who each died in separate crashes, one as a driver in 2004 and one as a passenger in 2005.

Friends and family rallied to prevent further tragedies by asking club members to follow a set of precautions called a PrePlan. Pledgers agree to make conscious decisions about driving sober and drug free, wearing their seatbelts, sticking to a buddy system, and having the courage to intervene when observing an unsafe situation. There are over 300 members supporting this mission.

All members and club leaders wear or display blue bracelets or keychains to show their pledge to safe driving and riding. The club also chooses safe driver/riders of the month who win $50 gift cards and host “Blue Outs” in school or at WMHS sport events to promote the club. 

An important factor about the club is that it focuses solely on members following the precautions while leaving personal choices regarding substance use out of the equation. This way, members reduce risk and help all to arrive alive when sharing the road.

Conversations surrounding choices about substance use are held during the club’s annual freshman presentation in the school’s wellness classes, which aims to educate first year students about the risks associated with substance use.

“As the advisor to this club, I am so thankful that our members and leaders care enough about themselves and each other to promote our mission and set an example in the community so that all can arrive alive when sharing the road,” said Loren Baccari, Survive the Drive LEARN advisor. “It’s truly special that so many WMHS students show solidarity in preventing tragedy. Jamie and Cassie have left lasting legacies in saving lives one ride at a time. We will continue to honor them and believe our mission is making a difference at WMHS.”