World Day Of Remembrance Observed For Road Traffic Victims

The U.S. faces an ongoing traffic safety crisis, with more than 40,000 Americans killed in roadway crashes each year – almost equal to the number of gun-related deaths – and millions more injured. Worldwide, the nation holds the highest rate of traffic fatalities among 29 high-income countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those are the stark statistics that underscore the urgent need for transformative safety measures to prevent further tragic losses, the National Safety Council (NSC), a nonprofit advocacy group, said as it prepared to honor those affected by roadway incidents on World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

“Every life lost to a roadway incident is preventable,” Lorraine Martin, president and chief executive of the National Safety Council, said in a statement. “On World Day of Remembrance, we honor those we’ve lost and renew our commitment to build a future where every journey ends in reaching your destination without harm. We can all contribute to safer roads by adopting strategies that prioritize the safety of all road users.”

The safety group is joining forces with the Vision Zero Network, Families for Safe Streets and It Could Be Me to support communities across the country as they commemorate the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, observed globally on the third Sunday of November each year.

The day, this year it is observed on Sunday, November 17, is dedicated to honoring those affected by roadway incidents and urging the public and policymakers to take action on road safety reforms that save lives. Communities across the country are organizing events to urge change at the local, state and federal levels. Events include rallies, bike rides and visual memorials for those who have lost a loved one in a traffic crash or suffered a serious injury.

In Washington, D.C., Daniel Langenkamp will be hosting the third annual “Ride for Your Life,” ending with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial in honor of his wife, Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, a U.S. diplomat who was hit and killed while riding her bike in Bethesda, Maryland, just weeks after she and her family were evacuated from Ukraine in 2022.

“We must address the dangers on our roads with the urgency they demand,” Langenkamp said in a statement. “Sarah’s passing was not just a personal loss but a tragedy that reflects a greater need for systematic change to protect everyone.”

The National Safety Council said research it supported, conducted by Texas A&M University, demonstrated “overwhelming public support” for reforms that favor roadway redesigns and policies that emphasize safety..

“The real tragedy is that these crashes are not accidents – they’re preventable,” Leah Shahum, founder and executive director of the Vision Zero Network, said in a statement. “On World Day of Remembrance, we urge leaders to prioritize safety through changes that are proven to work: redesigning our streets, lowering speeds and implementing safety technologies. Together, we can create safer environments for everyone.”

The timing of this year’s event is significant, Ms.Shahum told Forbes in an email, “because a record number of local elected officials, advocates and people who’ve lost loved ones in crashes are coming together at the local level and showing bipartisan demand for safe streets. We’re seeing major momentum for change at the local level in red & blue communities alike.”

Examples include actions in Memphis, TN; Wichita, KS; Indianapolis, IN and Jacksonville, FL “where eight schoolchildren have been hit and injured in crashes this year, and two of these kids died,” she said, adding that Jacksonville’s World Day of Remembrance event “will feature 508 white flags, representing each of the traffic deaths in the city in the past 3 years – a shockingly high number in my own home town.”

NSC invites the public to engage with stories of resilience and advocacy for safer roads by watching this video.

To learn about communities holding events and additional information, click here and here.