World Day of Remembrance

A crowd of people, many of whom are wearing yellow scarves or flourescent yellow vests, stand crowded around the steps of the Massachusetts State House in Boston. A woman with curly brown hair and a black jacket stands at the top of the steps and reads from something she is holding. Directly in front of the camera is the back of someone wearing a down coat and a yellow safety vest and holding a yellow bike helmet behind their back.

World Day of Remembrance is an annual international event during which we gather as a community to reflect upon those we've lost and commit ourselves to improving our roads. 

In 2022 so far, over 2,000 lives have been lost to, or seriously injured by, a traffic crash in Massachusetts — not including the countless friends, family, and loved ones impacted as well. On November 20th, the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition recognized each person impacted during this year’s World Day of Remembrance for victims of traffic crashes. The Vision Zero Coalition marked the occasion by laying down yellow flowers at the Massachusetts State House, one blossom for each person killed or seriously injured in a crash in 2022, and supported events across the state to remember those lost in traffic deaths.

Here are the list of other events that happened across the state:

  • The MA Vision Zero Coalition laid down yellow flowers at the Massachusetts state house, one blossom for each person who was killed or seriously injured in a traffic crash in 2022. The display will be out from 10am through the rest of the day. The following buildings and structures were lit up in yellow on the night of the 20th: Government Center MBTA Station, Boston City Hall, the Zakim Bridge, the Fore River Bridge, and the Longfellow Bridge.
  • Walk Bike Springfield & the Holyoke BikePed Committee hosted an event on November 20th at 2pm at the Springfield Library (220 State Street). 
  • WalkMedford hosted a vigil on November 18th at 11am with Mayor Lungo-Koehn.
  • WalkBike Worcester and District 5 City Councilor, Etel Haxhiaj hosted a Worcester World Day of Remembrance event on Sunday, November 20th in front of Chandler Magnet School, 525 Chandler Street, at 3:00 pm.
  • The City of Pittsfield lit-up facades at all downtown locations in yellow in honor of World Day of Remembrance.

Have you been impacted by traffic violence? View our resources, and hear other’s stories and consider sharing your own. 


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