Uniting to Prevent Traffic Violence on World Day of Remembrance: November 17th

As World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR) approaches on November 17, communities across the U.S. are mobilizing to honor those killed and injured in crashes and also to call for change.

Across the nation, people are organizing rallies, vigils, memorial walks, art installations and other activities to unite – not only in shared sorrow – but in bold, collective action. This year’s WDoR in the U.S. focuses on what we can do to stem traffic violence. Local events around the nation will call for action with the unifying theme: Traffic Death and Serious Injuries are Preventable.

We Have the Tools to Prevent Traffic Deaths

“On this year’s World Day of Remembrance, we urge local, state and national leaders to shake off their complacency around traffic violence and act for change. We already have the know-how and tools to save lives on our streets. What we need now is more political will to make change,” said Leah Shahum, Executive Director of Vision Zero Network.

From advanced driver assistance systems to speed management technologies to improved roadway design, a wealth of proven strategies exist, but they need the political and public will to be enacted. According to reliable projections, existing safety strategies could save an estimated 31,500 lives annually – nearly 75% of the way to our national goal of zero traffic deaths. (Read our blog post explaining how Vision Zero IS possible.)

These strategies below are not about pushing for more police enforcement or focusing on victim-blaming educational campaigns. Instead, they rely on thoughtful design and technological innovation to create a safer environment for everyone on our roads. And as funding (thanks to the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program) and technology advances, we expect even more significant gains in road safety.

Communities across the nation are increasingly changing their street designs and policies to prioritize safety over speed, advancing the goal of Vision Zero, or safe mobility for all. Examples of existing, effective safety tools recommended in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Proven Safety Countermeasures include the following:

Up to 49% reduction in crash rates by adding Bike Lanes.
Up to 13% reduction in pedestrian-vehicle crashes at intersections using Leading Pedestrian Intervals.
19-47% reduction in crashes with Road Diets, such as converting four-lane roads to three-lane roads.
Up to 78% lower crash rates when converting intersections into Roundabouts.
Up to 97% prevention of head-on crashes on rural roads with Median Barriers (this is how Vision Zero in Sweden started! – more here).
Up to 54% reduction in crashes with Speed Safety Cameras on urban principal arterials.
Up to 65% reduction in fatal and injury crashes on freeways with Variable Speed Limit Signs, with overall crash reductions of up to 34%.

Success Stories: Vision Zero in Action

Some communities are already saving lives by using existing safety tools, including the following: 

• Hoboken, NJ has achieved seven consecutive years without a traffic-related death by systematically implementing Vision Zero safety improvements, including: comprehensive road redesigns, reduced speeds and traffic calming measures, such as daylighting intersections (Read more).
• Philadelphia, PA achieved a 50% reduction in traffic fatalities, a 36% reduction in crashes, and a 90% decrease in excessive speeding after installing speed safety cameras on Roosevelt Boulevard, the city’s deadliest road. (Read more)
• San Francisco, CA evaluated 18 Vision Zero projects over several years and found that collisions, overall, decreased by 18%, pedestrian-related collisions decreased by 32% and bicycle-related collisions decreased by 33%. (Read more)

Look for more examples in our recent press release where we called on policy makers to lead the change.

A Call to Leaders: Invest in Proven Safety Strategies

“We have a crisis of traffic violence in this nation, stemming largely from poorly designed roads, unsafe vehicles, and policies that focus more on speed than safety. But we have the tools to fix this. Now we call on our policymakers at every level to lead the way in prioritizing safe streets and safe mobility for everyone in this nation,” said Amy Cohen, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets (FSS), whose beloved 12-year-old son Sammy was killed while crossing the street in front of his home.

WDoR is not just a day of remembrance; it is also a call to action. It reminds us that achieving zero traffic deaths is possible if leaders at every level commit to changes and if we stand behind them every step of the way. We need policymakers, health professionals and industry leaders to step up, recognize the gravity of the crisis and move beyond the status quo that has failed us for too long.

This November 17th, let’s honor those we’ve lost by pushing forward with all the solutions that are within our reach. By prioritizing safety, demanding change, and adopting proven strategies, we can turn the tide on traffic violence and create a safer, more equitable mobility for all.

How You Can Make a Difference This WDoR

So, there are plenty of ideas what YOU can do for this World Day of Remembrance:

1. Host a WDoR event in your community: Whether you’re an individual advocate, member of an organization or a public agency representative, you can help organize a WDoR action in your community. Even a small event can drive change. Check out the Toolkit for WDoR Organizers to get some ideas and sign up for our national WDoR organizers call on Nov. 7 – this is a peer-to-peer opportunity to boost your advocacy skills and get some advice for event organizing.
2. Attend a local event. Find an event near you on the map – new events are being added daily!
3. Engage the media. Write letters to the editor, submit op-eds, or invite media to cover WDoR events (templates are here).
4. Add your story to the Community Story map – a tool that connects and empowers communities by sharing personal stories of people impacted by traffic violence, advocating for safer streets, and fostering collaboration.
5. Urge your City Council to pass a WDoR resolution or proclamation: Use our template to encourage local leaders to publicly recognize WDoR.
6. Share on social media. Use our media gallery for promotional materials, and post with  #WDoR2024 & #TrafficViolenceIsPreventable hashtags. Share the story of a loved one, friend, or family member impacted by traffic violence to give a personal voice to this movement.