By Sharon Atieno
This year’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is marked under the theme ‘Remember. Support. Act.’
Celebrated every third Sunday of November since 2005, the day is commemorated to pay homage to those who have died on the world’s roads, advocate for better support for victims and bereaved families and promote action to save lives.
This year’s theme calls on the world to remember the more than 3,200 lives that are lost on the road daily, support those who are bereaved and those who suffer long lasting consequences from physical and psychological trauma, and act to prevent such tragedies today and in the future.
Speaking in a video message to mark this Day, Dr. Etienne Krug, Director, Department of Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), noted that countries should put more effort to reduce road crashes.
Referring to the 2023 WHO Global Status report on Road Safety, Dr. Krug who is also the Chair the United Nations (UN) Road Safety Collaboration said, the five percent decline of road traffic deaths demonstrates that “prevention is possible and there is much to do to achieve our ambitious targets.”
The report shows that between 2010 and 2021, road traffic deaths have reduced by five percent reaching 1.19 million annually.
More than half of fatalities occur among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, in particular those living in low and middle-income countries.
Further, the report notes that road traffic injuries remain the leading killer of children and young people aged five to 29 years.
Commemorating the Day in Kenya, Rev. Philip Anyolo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi called on Fathers-in-charge in the Archdiocese of Nairobi to hold special prayers during Mass across the entire region to remember those who have lost their lives in road crashes, pray for their families and advocate for safety of all road users.
“ Together we can make a difference. We can prevent the loss of life. We can help ensure that no more families have to endure the pain of losing a loved one on our roads,” he urged in a press statement.
Kenya loses over 4000 people on road crashes annually while over 20,000 are living with life changing injuries. Between January and 23rd October, 2024 about 19,186 people suffered injuries on the roads.
With six years left, urgent action is needed if the global goal of at least halving road traffic deaths and injuries by the year 2030 is to be achieved.
