World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is on Sunday, November 20th. This event is commemorated every year on the third Sunday in November. This day is dedicated to remembering the millions of people who have been killed or seriously injured and acknowledging the suffering of the victims and their loved ones. This event also pays tribute to the emergency crews, police, and medical professionals dealing with the traumatic events surrounding these crash scenes.
The sad fact is that every single day, thousands of people are killed or seriously injured on our roads worldwide. The death of a loved one is always difficult, but to lose them in a such senseless and violent way is devastating beyond measure. The pain of such loss is compounded by the judiciary and the government, making it that much more difficult for families to heal from the heavy burden of this tragic loss. No family should have to suffer this way. But yet these preventable events recur every day.
This event is an opportunity to provide a platform for road traffic victims and their families to:
- Remember all those killed and seriously injured
- Recognize the crucial work of emergency services
- Advocate for better support for victims and their families
- Promote evidence-based actions to prevent death and injuries
- Draw attention to the legal response to culpable road deaths and injuries
Due to the volume of victims, there is a good chance that a bereaved family lives in your community. You can help bring people together to uplift the grieving family and surround them with love, care, and camaraderie. You can also observe this event by acknowledging the crucial work of emergency service providers. These workers serve by saving countless lives and helping prevent disabilities. One of the best ways to observe this event is to promote the actions that help prevent crashes. Listed below are a few ways we can all help:
- Drive within the speed limit
- Obey traffic rules
- Wear a seatbelt
- Wear a helmet
- Install anti-skid breaks
- Use reflectors while biking and walking
- Don’t drive distracted
- STOP when the light is red
- Don’t drive under the influence
- Use your voice and SHARE this message within your community, together we make a difference.
Each year, New Jersey loses nearly 600 lives to traffic violence. The Vision Zero New Jersey Alliance is committed to encouraging New Jersey residents to adopt the vision zero statewide goal to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries in the state by 2030. You can take the pledge to support Vision Zero here.
Resources:
https://www.visionzero4nj.org/
https://www.roadpeace.org/prevention/
https://worlddayofremembrance.org/#social
https://nationaltoday.com/world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims/