World Day of Remembrance
for Road Traffic Victims in the U.S.
Sunday, November 15, 2026
World Day of Remembrance 2026: Invest in Safety, Not Speed
On Sunday, November 15, 2026, we stand in solidarity with communities across the U.S. for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR) — a time to remember those killed and injured in crashes and to demand life-saving changes on our streets.
This year’s U.S. theme, Invest in Safety, Not Speed, is a call to action. We already know what works: smarter street design, safer speed limits, and proven technologies like speed safety cameras and Intelligent Speed Assistance. Now, it’s time for decisionmakers to invest in these solutions.
Whether you’re new to WDoR or a returning organizer, join our monthly national organizing calls to connect with others and get support for planning local actions. RSVP below to receive the Zoom link for the following meetings:
Wed Aug 12 · Wednesday, Sept 9 · Thursday, Oct 15 · Thursday Nov 5 · Monday Nov 30, 2026
Photo credit: Brian Rimm
Take a Look at WDoR 2025 Recap
Take a moment to explore the recap of this year’s nationwide events – the stories and advocacy efforts featured are deeply inspiring, reflecting the remarkable impact of united action.
What is World Day of Remembrance (WDoR)?
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is a global event held every third Sunday of November to honor those who have lost their lives or been impacted by roadway crashes. This year on November 15, communities across the globe, including several dozen in the United States, will gather together to demand actions towards improving roadway safety and to uplift proven strategies, including redesigning dangerous roads, reducing speed limits, and improving vehicle design.
This day also serves as a crucial opportunity for governments and those working in road safety to demonstrate the scale and impact of road-related deaths and injuries and advocate for immediate and concerted action to end this public health crisis.
If you’re in the United States and want to organize an event in your community, you can sign up here.
Why it Matters
While recent data show a slight decline from the historic highs of recent years, the number of people killed on our roads remains unacceptable. The National Safety Council’s Injury Facts provides finalized 2023 data and preliminary data for the first half of 2025, underscoring the continued scale of loss on our nation’s roads.
U.S. Traffic Fatality Statistics
The U.S. failure to protect all road users, especially people walking and biking, makes us unique among other developed nations.While other countries successfully implement proven safety strategies, traffic deaths continue to rise in the U.S.
These figures minimize the pain and impact of the nation’s failed transportation safety policies. On World Day of Remembrance, we will remind the world that each “statistic” about roadway safety represents a beloved parent, child, sibling, grandparent, friend or neighbor killed in predictable and preventable traffic crashes.
In 2023, 44,762 people died in roadway crashes in the U.S. according to NSC.
Medically consulted injuries in motor-vehicle incidents totaled 5.1 million in 2023 according to NSC.
In 2023, 11,775 people were killed in speeding-related crashes, representing 28% of all traffic fatalities.
In 2023, 7,314 people were killed while walking in the U.S. This number of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes was the highest since 1981.
In 2023, 1,166 pedalcyclists were killed in traffic crashes – a 4% increase from 2022.
The U.S. ranks 47th out of 54 in traffic fatality rate among high-income nations according to the World Health Organization (2019).
2024 Media Highlights
2024 Virtual Candlelight Vigil
On November 19, crash victims and survivors from across the country came together for a virtual candlelight vigil. This heartfelt event honored the lives lost to traffic crashes and amplified the voices of those left behind.
We invite you to view this slideshow, which captures the moments from this year’s events across the U.S. and serves as a powerful tribute to the loved ones we remember.
Past WDoR Events
2023: Safe Streets For People
