World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is this Sunday, November 15, 2020. This year marks the 25th year of commemorating this event, and 15 years since it was recognized by the United Nations. Globally, 1.35 million people are killed in traffic crashes every year. Over 100 Americans are killed every single day and millions more are injured each year.
Join us virtually this weekend for World Day of Remembrance
In lieu of an in-person gathering, the DC chapter has created a virtual bulletin board. We invite you to post a message to remember and honor your and your loved ones’ experience. Please feel free to contribute regardless of when or where your crash occurred, whether your experience was recent or many years ago, in DC or elsewhere.
All are welcome to close the weekend by joining Families for Safe Streets chapters across the country for a virtual candle lighting vigil on Sunday, November 15 at 8pm eastern. Click here to RSVP for Zoom info.
What this year means to us
2020 has been an unprecedented year with many of us experiencing collective grief and trauma with all of the things that arrived with the coronavirus pandemic, including learning how to process our feelings in physical isolation and finding new ways to digitally connect and support one another.
Since we gathered last year on Freedom Plaza, 39 people have lost their lives in Washington, DC due to traffic violence, in addition to the thousands who have been struck and survived their crashes. We also affirm that Black lives matter and acknowledge that our transportation system and its enforcement has been used as a tool to uphold systemic racism and has caused harm to District families and beyond.
We commemorate World Day of Remembrance because it is important to remember and acknowledge our experiences with traffic violence. We are not alone. Our experiences remain with us despite everything else that has happened in the past year.
As we reflect on the past year, we are hopeful for the future. First and foremost, we thank our members for having the strength to share your personal stories and the far-reaching effects traffic violence has had on your families. We also thank the first responders and healthcare workers who have selflessly dedicated their lives to take care of others during a critical moment of need. And lastly, we thank the DC Council for unanimously supporting the passage of the Vision Zero Omnibus Bill in September, and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser for permanently lowering speed limits on local roads to 20 miles per hour. We are hopeful that we are making progress to save lives and to make sure no other families experience what we have.
In memoriam: We also remember our friend Karen Ramsey, who passed away last month. Karen joined us last year and beautifully captured this murmuration of starlings. May you rest in power.