The Department of Transport and Public Works remembered the millions who were killed or seriously injured on the world’s roads at the World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for Traffic Victims event at the Zwelihle Methodist Church in Hermanus on 20 November 2022.
At the event, the Department’s Road Safety Management team in partnership with the Overstrand Local Municipality, Road Accident Fund (RAF), ChildSafe, and Emergency Medical Services engaged with members of the community about the importance of road safety, highlighting pedestrian safety as an ongoing area of concern.
Road safety officials lit candles in remembrance of road crash victims.
“The ritual of lighting a candle to pay tribute to a life ‘passed’ has long been a part of our culture. Keeping a light burning in remembrance signifies that the memory still lives on and burns bright. It is a ritual that promotes reflection and signifies remembrance,” said Willie van der Merwe, Director: Road Safety Management.
The WDR is commemorated across the world on the third Sunday of November each year. This event gives the Department the opportunity to acknowledge the suffering of all affected victims, families and communities, and to pay tribute to the dedicated emergency crews, police, and medical professionals who deal with the aftermath of road crashes.
“Every year, millions more road victims are added to the current toll of over 50m killed and hundreds of millions injured since the first road death 125 years ago – a disaster that continues day in and day out in all countries of the world,” he added.
WDR plays an important role in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) new Decade of Action 2021–2030 which aims to reduce road casualties by 50% by 2030.