Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring November 15, 2026, as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
end
Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommend the Mayor and Council read, approve, and present the proclamation to Kathleen Kleinmann, Chair of the Rockville Transportation and Mobility Commission
Discussion
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims started in the UK in 1993 by Brigitte Chaudhry, founder of a national charity for road crash victims named RoadPeace. By 1998, many other countries added their support, including Argentina, Australia, Israel, South Africa, and Trinidad. In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly invited all nations to observe the day, and support around the world continued to grow.
This day of remembrance has had much success in global efforts to reduce road casualties by following a set of objectives. The goal is to provide a platform for road traffic victims and their families to remember people killed and seriously injured on the roads, acknowledge the crucial work of the emergency support and rescue services, draw attention to the generally trivial legal response to culpable road deaths and injuries, advocate for better support for road traffic victims and their families, and to promote evidence-based actions to prevent and eventually stop further road traffic deaths and injuries.
In September 2020, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution improving global road safety and proclaiming the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, which has the target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by the year 2030. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Regional Commissions, as well as other partners in the United Nations Safety Collaboration, have developed a Global Plan for this Decade of Action.
Here in the City of Rockville, we encourage everyone to take part in the observance of World Day of Remembrance by thinking of the victims of road traffic accidents and to do their part by practicing safe driving and following traffic laws, whether you’re a driver or a pedestrian crossing the street.
Statistics:
Overall Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities
• 2022: 42,795 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes nationwide, marking a slight ~0.3% decrease from 2021’s 42,939 fatalities. Source: Nhtsa.gov
• 2023 (early estimate): The U.S. experienced approximately 40,990 fatalities, a 3.6% decline from 2022. Source: Nhtsa.gov
�� Pedestrian Fatalities
• 2022: There were 7,522 pedestrian deaths in traffic crashes, up slightly from 7,470 in 2021. This is the highest pedestrian fatality level since 1981. Source: rosap.ntl.bts.gov
• 2024 (as of May 2026): The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated 7,080 pedestrian deaths, reflecting a decade-high trend. Source itskrs.its.dot.gov
• 2025 (preliminary projection by GHSA): The Governors Highway Safety Association projects 6,732 pedestrian fatalities, marking a 7% decrease from 2024. Source: Ghsa.org
�� Cyclist (Bicyclist) Fatalities
• 2023 (from Crash Report): The highest annual total in over four decades-1,166 cyclist deaths-was recorded. Source: nhtsa.gov; vehicle-safety.org
• 2024 (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts): There were 1,103 pedal-cyclist fatalities, a 6% reduction compared to 2023, accounting for 2.8% of all traffic deaths. rosap.ntl.bts.gov
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council proclaim this proclamation annually.