SARASOTA – A Suncoast woman has turned her tragedy into a life calling hoping to spread the message to drivers to stop on red.
After losing her husband in a red light crash – Melissa Wandall has made it her mission encouraging all of us to be safer drivers on the road.
“It’s National Stop on Red Week, so we want to just remind drivers to be safe – to be mindful,” said Wandall.
The Florida Department of Transportation and several Suncoast Law Enforcement agencies are raising awareness for National Stop on Red Week August 1st – 7th.
“We have really good drivers making bad decisions and we want to remind them to always stop on red so that we can save lives,” said Wandall. “We don’t want anymore victims and we don’t want any more violent violators.”
Wandall, President of the National Coalition for Safer Roads lost her husband in 2003 when a driver ran a red light. At the time she was nine months pregnant.
“It just became such a reality in me that there was such an issue with red light running and [I] really wanted to find a way to make good decision,” said Wandall.
She has been spearheading these events with local agencies like Sarasota and Venice PD, as well as with Sarasota County Deputies.
She says when people stop on red, they become part of the solution and help save lives.
“My husband loved me, and he was so excited to meet our daughter that was born two weeks later and that drives me every day,” she said. “It may some simple to some people and quite frankly it may sound dumb to some people – but love is what drives me every single day.”
The Stop on red Week Campaign is reminding drivers that paying attention can help save lives. In fact last year, Friday was the deadliest day for red-light running.
