Important Facts of the News
- World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is observed on 16 November.
- Every year, around 1.2 million people die due to road crashes worldwide.
- Approximately 50 million people sustain injuries or disabilities due to road incidents each year.
- Almost 90% of road accident-related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.
- One-third of the victims are children and young people.
- Road accidents are the leading cause of death among children and youth.
- UN road safety initiatives have supported 94 countries in enhancing road safety measures.
- Governments reaffirmed their commitment to reduce global road deaths by 50% by 2030 at the Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety.
Global Appeal on World Day of Remembrance
On the occasion of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, observed annually on 16 November, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for stronger united action to prevent needless loss of life on the roads. The day marks a moment to remember not only those who have died in road crashes but also the millions who have been injured or left permanently disabled.
Road Crashes Remain a Major Public Health Challenge
Road accidents continue to be a major global public health concern. According to global estimates, around 1.2 million people are killed every year in road-related incidents. In addition, nearly 50 million others face life-changing injuries or disabilities. The burden of these accidents falls most heavily on low and middle-income nations, where nine out of ten road accident deaths take place.
Children and young people account for a significant portion of the fatalities, with road crashes ranking as the leading cause of death for this age group. Families and communities around the world are affected, making road safety a shared responsibility.
Solutions and Renewed Commitment
The Secretary-General highlighted that effective measures already exist to reduce road deaths. These include expanding safe infrastructure, bringing stronger enforcement of speed and safety laws, promoting public awareness and sharing proven road safety strategies among nations.
The efforts of the UN Road Safety Conventions, the UN Road Safety Fund and the Special Envoy for Road Safety have assisted 94 countries in their efforts to make roads safer. This year, at the Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, governments reaffirmed their commitment to cut global road fatalities by half by 2030.
A Call to Turn Remembrance into Action
The message emphasized the importance of ensuring every journey is safe and free from preventable harm. By reinforcing road safety measures globally, lives can be saved and long-term injuries prevented. The Secretary-General appealed for coordinated efforts to make roads safer for all.