World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Sunday 17 November 2024

Did you know? 

The Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was first held in 1993 in the United Kingdom and organised since then by non-governmental organizations in a number of countries. It was created to give recognition to victims of road traffic crashes and for their loved ones.

On 26 October 2005, the United Nations adopted a resolution which calls for governments to mark the third Sunday in November each year as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. This day provides an opportunity to draw the public’s attention to road traffic crashes, their consequences and costs, and the measures which can be taken to prevent them. The day also provides an opportunity to remind governments and society of their responsibility to make roads safer.

While road traffic deaths are counted in the year they occur, a family remains bereaved forever. The bereaved are not counted or included in road traffic injury data. Many others remain deeply affected by the loss of a friend, colleague, neighbour or member of the community. The effect on the emergency services, whose work involves facing the consequences of crashes on a daily basis, is also profound. Road traffic injuries leave behind shattered families and communities.

What is happening this year?