Brittany Vega was 14 years old and was walking to school when she was struck and killed by a car last fall on Sunrise Highway, a multi-lane road that passes through Wantagh, on Long Island. It was a death that rocked her community—a deep thread of emotion poured out on the web and on the street where she was killed, mourning the loss of a girl with tremendous potential.

Brittany’s mom, Sandi Vega, quickly rose to action. She contacted Tri-State, asking how she could help make sure that what happened to her family would not happen to others. She testified in front of her local Town Board, met with her state representatives, and asked the state Department of Transportation to make changes to the intersection to make it safer.

The intersection now has a countdown clock, and the DOT has promised a full analysis of other solutions to make the intersection safer. However, this is only one intersection, while dangerous roads across the state kill more than 300 pedestrians each year.

Sandi will soon head to Albany, to ask state legislators to finally make a commitment to a complete streets law that will create safer and more livable communities by making sure that roads are designed for everyone who uses them, and not just cars. She’s asked that you join her by signing a petition in support of the law.

Photo: Nadine Lemmon/TSTC.