Photo Credit: http://worlddayofremembrance.org/
Next Sunday, 15th November, road safety authorities, NGOs and other stakeholders in road safety will organise different initiatives for the promotion of the World Day of Remembrance 2015 for Road Traffic Victims.
The occasion has become officially recognised following the UN General Assembly´s resolution A/60/5 on October 26, 2005, whose purpose was to invite ‘Member States and the international community to recognize this day’. The concept of a remembrance day originated in the UK as a means to highlight the victims of road traffic crashes and the plight of their loved ones who are forced to cope with the emotional and practical consequences of these traumatic events.
The United Nations resolution calls for governments to mark the third Sunday in November each year as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Observation of this day provides an opportunity to draw the public’s attention to road traffic crashes, their consequences and costs, and the measures which can be taken to prevent them, both for drivers and other road users as well as for governments and society who have a responsibility to make roads safer.
According to the WDR website, these are some of the key factors that contribute to the most serious road traffic accidents:
- Speeding
- Impaired driving (alcohol/drugs/fatigue)
- Deficient road infrastructure
- Non use of seat belts
- Non use of child restraints
- Failure to wear motorcycle helmets
- Cell-phone use/texting
All of these behaviours, bar one, are our personal responsibility and there can never be enough reminding of this fact, whether you drive for pleasure or for work.
