17 November 2024 – Every day, at least 300 people in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region lose their lives due to road crashes, and many more suffer injuries and disabilities.
So, we never forget the faces behind the numbers, World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was started in 1993. In 2005, the United Nations endorsed it as a global day to be observed every third Sunday in November each year.
This year’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2024 focuses on “that day” – i.e., the day a traffic accident stopped or changed the course of the victims’ lives forever. Each victim has her/his own story of that day, which their relatives, friends and acquaintances carry in their memory. World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims aims to pay tribute to and remember the thousands of people killed and injured as a result of road accidents every minute.
The theme of the World Day of Remembrance is 'Remember. Support. Act': we need to remember those killed and severely injured in traffic accidents, support those who endure the consequences of road crashes, and act to prevent crashes and respond to their impacts.
According to the Global status report on road safety 2023, the Eastern Mediterranean Region accounts for 11% of global road traffic deaths and has the second highest road traffic death rate in the world. Those aged less than 45 years account for almost 70% of reported road traffic deaths. The problem affects all countries and territories in the Region, regardless of their income level.
The Global report found almost 50% of road traffic deaths occur among vulnerable road users (pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists), with drivers and passengers of four-wheeled vehicles accounting for 40% of deaths.
Abu Dhabi Mobility and the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Health and Prevention, in partnership with WHO, are hosting an event to mark World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and to launch of the Regional road safety report for the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
The event aims to highlight the challenges facing road safety in the Region and underscore the need for sustained efforts to improve road safety systems.
The 2023 Global status report on road safety provided the baseline for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030 which targets a 50% reduction in road traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. The Regional road safety report will provide a comprehensive overview of the situation across the Region, offering analyses of current trends, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
Related links
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
WHO statement of support for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2024
Global status report on road safety 2023
Global plan for the decade of action for road safety 2021-2030
