BELLEVIEW — The first in a series of events that are part of the “Stop on Red” traffic safety campaign was held here the morning of Aug. 6.
The event, hosted in the parking lot of Emery Abshier: Allstate Insurance at 6041 SE Abshier Blvd., was put together by the Florida Department of Transportation, city of Belleview, Ocala Marion County Transportation Planning Organization and the National Coalition for Safer Roads.
From Marion, the group travels to Volusia County on Aug. 7 and then Brevard County on Aug. 8. The national “Stop on Red” week began Aug. 4 and ends Aug. 8.
Starting shortly after 9 a.m., several speakers took to the podium to highlight the importance of stopping at red lights and stop signs.
Loreen Bobo, an FDOT official for District 5, which includes Marion, said in 2023 the state had 33,045 crashes because of drivers not stopping on red. In those crashes, 84 people died and 681 were seriously injured.
Bobo said FDOT’s goal is getting to zero.
Traffic statistics
Marion County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Pamela Driggers said her agency, along with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol, responds to many crashes within the county. In a few cases, motorists have run a red light and hit a fire truck.
Driggers said that according to FHP figures, so far this year in Marion County there have been 3,494 crashes with 2,910 injuries and 41 deaths. Those cases don’t cover the cities of Ocala, Belleview or Dunnellon.
Before the event, Belleview Police Department officers were at the scene of a two-vehicle crash mere yards from where everyone had gathered. From the crash, police officials said two people were arrested on drug charges.
BPD Lt. Mike Miley said whenever you’re approaching an intersection, always be ready to stop. For pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicycle riders: Be mindful, use the crosswalks, always look both ways before crossing, and cyclists should ride with the flow of traffic.
Stopping on red personal for one speaker
Lt. Paul Bloom, public information officer at the MCSO, said nothing prepares them for making that dreadful knock on someone’s door to tell them that their loved one won’t come home because they were involved in a crash.
Bloom said not stopping at a red light or stop sign is 100 percent preventable.
A former BPD officer, Belleview City Commissioner Ray Dwyer, said the city’s motto is being a city with a small town charm. He said it’s crucial that everyone who’s behind the wheel stop on red and pay attention.
Ocala/Marion County TPO Director Rob Balmes said his agency is committed to zero deaths and zero serious injuries from traffic crashes.
For Melissa Wandall, president of the National Coalation for Safer Road, stopping on red is personal.
In late October 2003, someone failed to stop at a red light and it caused the death of her husband, Mark. The crash also seriously injured her brother. The crash occurred two weeks before her daughter, Madisyn, was born. Her daughter is now 21.
Echoing Bloom’s comments, Wandall said stopping on red would relieve law enforcement officials from having to make those dreadful notifications.
Wandall said she was there on Aug. 6 as a safety advocate. She urged everyone to take the message they heard back to their communities and choose to be part of the solution.
At the conclusion of the presentation, volunteers from FDOT, Ocala/Marion County TPO, law enforcements and others teamed up and walked to nearby intersections holding signs reminding drivers to stop on red.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Traffic safety: Stop on Red week made its way to Belleview on Aug. 6
Reporting by Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
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