A road program that saves lives

Nearly seven years ago, my husband's life was taken by a driver who ran a red light. In the time since this tragic incident, I've worked to create something truly positive.

In the three short months since the implementation of the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act, countless lives have been saved and our streets and intersections are becoming safer. This is especially demonstrated in cities that implemented intersection safety cameras and have been utilizing them even before the state law was put in place.

In Aventura, the number of reported crashes citywide has dropped by 200 from 2008-10. One of the highest crash-site intersections there saw a 60 percent decrease from 2008-10. Temple Terrace's red-light camera program has also experienced success. Traffic violations decreased by 67 percent in the two years since the city began using the technology at two high-traffic intersections.

These success stories come on the heels of the recently released U.S. Department of Transportation report that indicates Florida experienced the largest decrease in traffic-related fatalities in the nation: from 2,980 in 2008 to 2,558 in 2009. That's a drop of 422 deaths or a 14 percent change. I can't help but think how intersection safety programs, alongside other key factors such as seat belt laws, stricter penalties and enforcement of drunk driving, have all aided in this overall decrease.

The passing of the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act has been a significant milestone in my personal journey, but most important are the valuable lives that have been saved as a result. It is our hope that drivers across the state can have peace of mind knowing this measure will save lives. I hope that as more cities and counties experience the results of Temple Terrace and Aventura, Floridians will continue to embrace intersection camera programs in their neighborhoods.