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His wife was killed, now this man wants to keep your family safe

Posted at 2:59 PM, Nov 30, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-30 14:59:23-05

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has kicked off its annual "tie one on for safety" campaign.

The red ribbon tied on one's car serves as a reminder for drivers to stay sober and safe.

MADD representatives and its local sponsor, Richmond Ford, held a news conference at the West End dealership.

Law enforcement officers from several Richmond-area jurisdictions came out in support.

Last year, in the United States, there were nearly 900 drunk driving deaths between Thanksgiving and New Years.

John Meyer, of Powhatan, lost his wife Judy and dog Mickey in a 2012 drunk driving accident.

He said the woman who t-boned their vehicle had a blood alcohol content more than double the legal limit.

Meyer survived the accident.

He said he thought the reason he survived was to inspire other people to stay sober and speak up when someone attempts to drive drunk.

"Somebody can think about this and say, 'this woman and her dog were killed.' That was my family. That's what I came home to every night," he said. "If they can remember that this could happen to you all, and it can happen to any of us, just think about that when you are taking that drink. And say, 'is this worth it?'"

You can pick up a MADD "tie one on for safety" red ribbon at Richmond Ford in the West End or the City of Richmond.

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