World Day of Remembrance 2025: Honouring Road Traffic Victims and Renewing the Global Call for Safer Roads

On the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, the global community comes together to honour the millions of lives lost or forever changed by road crashes and to reaffirm collective commitment toward safer roads for all.

Each year, an estimated 1.2 million people are killed in road traffic incidents, while another 50 million suffer injuries or disabilities. Tragically, low- and middle-income countries account for 90 percent of all road crash fatalities. Children and young people represent a third of all victims, making road accidents the leading cause of death for this age group. Despite the alarming statistics, experts emphasize that road tragedies are preventable. Proven solutions include improving road infrastructure, strengthening traffic legislation, enforcing safety standards, and raising public awareness. International collaboration remains key in advancing these efforts.

Through initiatives such as the UN Road Safety Conventions, the UN Road Safety Fund, and the Office of the Special Envoy for Road Safety, 94 countries have made significant progress in reducing road deaths and injuries. Building on this momentum, governments at this year’s Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety renewed their commitment to halving road fatalities by 2030. This year’s message calls for action beyond remembrance — urging governments, communities, and individuals to work together to make every journey a safe one.

“Let’s save lives and prevent injuries. Together, we can turn remembrance into action — and help to ensure that every journey ends safely.”