World Day of Remembrance will kick off on Sunday, November 15, 2020, and the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition will be observing the day through the end of the month.
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 other years, the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition has hosted a vigil at the MA State House to remember loved ones and to recognize the hundreds of people killed in traffic crashes across the state each year. For safety and public health reasons, we are not hosting any gatherings or events this year, but this doesn't make this day of remembrance any less important. With catastrophic numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths across the country and the world, we sought a message that would honor victims of both traffic violence and this deadly pandemic.
Throughout the pandemic, traffic crashes have continued to occur at high rates, putting strain on hospitals already struggling with the burden of COVID-19. With fewer cars on the road as people remain at home, there are more opportunities for speeding, and as a result, deadly crashes. It is important that we all do our part to ease the burden on Emergency Rooms by preventing traffic crashes and injuries.
We are encouraging remembrance on Sunday, November 15th by lighting a candle in your home to honor loved ones lost or impacted. If you look to one of the following structures on the night of the 15th, you will see it lit up in yellow in remembrance; Zakim Bridge, Longfellow Bridge, Burns Bridge, Fore River Bridge, and Boston City Hall.
Have you been impacted by traffic violence? View our resources, and hear other’s stories and consider sharing your own.
Check out photos from the 2019 World Day of Remembrance here. Press coverage can be found below.
Press coverage of 2019 World Day of Remembrance:
- WBZ (NewsRadio): Vigil Held At Mass. State House For Victims Of Traffic Accidents
- StreetsBlogMA: Street Safety Advocates Hold ‘Day of Remembrance’ Vigil This Sunday
- Boston Herald: Safety advocates press for legislators to finally pass hands-free driving bill
- Boston Globe: Vigil to end motor vehicle crashes highlights safety measures, distracted driving legislation on Beacon Hill
- WBZ (CBS): Committee Reaches Compromise On Distracted Driving Bill In Massachusetts
- Sentinel & Enterprise: Top Negotiators Say They Have Distracted Driving Bill Deal
Learn more:
- Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition
- Crash Not Accident Pledge
- Boston Globe op-ed: Another cyclist is killed. Our streets need to be safer. Now
- Boston Globe editorial: A bicycle safety measure that should be law
- Check out social media: #WDoR2019 #CrashNotAccident #SafetyOverSpeed #VisionZero
- Photos and press coverage from 2018 World Day of Remembrance