A HEART-BROKEN family is making a plea to drivers in support of Avon and Somerset Police’s new road safety campaign.

Melanie Miles was on her way home from work on June 15, 2015 when she was killed by a drink-driver.

Her wife has spoken about her grief and how the family has been given a life sentence.

It was 5am, and Melanie, from Clevedon had just messaged her wife Michelle to let her know she was on her way back.

The couple, who were celebrating their 20 year anniversary, were just a week away from a holiday to Gran Canaria.

But sadly, they never made it, because Melanie was killed shortly after by a drink-driver.

Her family has spoken out on the eve of the tragic event as part of a new launch by Avon and Somerset Police, aimed at reducing drink and drug driving.

Michelle said: “Mel was such a bubbly person, always laughing. And she hated the idea of anyone getting behind a wheel after touching a drop of alcohol “We miss her immensely. The person who killed her will go back to his life when he gets out of jail in a few years. I’m sure he won’t get over what happened but he will move on.

“We can’t. We’ve been given a life sentence because she’s no longer with us.

“It’s difficult to talk about it because it’s still very raw. But if telling our story makes just one person think before drinking or texting or speeding, it’s worth it, because this could happen to anyone.”

A car collided with Melanie’s motorbike at Three Lamps Junction in Totterdown, Bristol.

She was thrown 10ft into the air.

The courts found that the driver was nearly three times over the limit at the time.

He ran two red lights.

The driver pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court.

He was jailed for six years, four months and banned from driving for five years.

Melanie was pronounced dead at the scene, from internal injuries.

Her brother, Craig Bryant, said: “As with losing any family member, it’s hard however, nothing prepared us for this.

"We couldn’t say goodbye. She was just gone.

“I can’t put it into words exactly how devastating it is to not have her here anymore. Getting just the first anniversaries over is always extremely hard.”

The family is sharing their story in support of Avon and Somerset’s See Me - an initiative encouraging drivers to ‘see the person’ behind each vehicle in a bid to reduce collisions on the road.

This phase of the campaign will focus on reducing drink and drug driving.

Last year, 436 people were convicted for drink-drive related offences in Avon and Somerset.

Chief inspector Kevan Rowlands, force lead for Road Safety, said: “Melanie’s family have been devastated by her loss and their courage in coming forward to tell their story in support of our campaign is amazing.

“These are the consequences you risk when you take charge of a motor vehicle under the influence of drink or drugs.

"The SEE ME campaign aims to highlight that there are real people behind steering wheels, handle bars, on foot and on horseback and we should not be choosing to do things that put their lives at risk.

“We need to learn to see the person and not the vehicle.

"If we do that, we will drive safely and with courtesy and we can continue to reduce death and serious injury on our roads and stop other families having to experience the heartbreak of losing someone they love.”

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “Every day Michelle and her family have been forced to live with the devastating consequences of Melanie’s death.

"The fact they were prematurely robbed of Melanie’s life because someone chose to drink and drive makes her death even harder to come to terms with.

“I am extremely grateful to them for sharing their story. It has taken real courage to speak about what happened and how it affected their lives and their family.

"I hope many people hear their heart-breaking account and reflect on the decisions that they make when they are on the road.”

As part of See Me, Avon and Somerset Police officers are also supporting Operation Tonic, a national campaign to combat drink and drug driving on our roads, throughout June.

Read more at www.seeme.org.uk.