Victims of fatal car accidents were remembered by friends and family on Sunday, Nov. 20 in Las Vegas’s first participation in World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR).
WDR, observed on the third Sunday of November, is an annual day of observance to mourn those who have been killed in traffic accidents and thank first responders for their work.
The event originated in 1995 under the direction of the European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR) as the European Day of Remembrance. The title was later changed to World Day of Remembrance after the inclusion of non-governmental organizations from Africa, Asia, and South America.
The event soon gained global support and recognition from religious and political organizations. In 2000, Pope John Paul II offered WDR the official support of the Catholic Church. The United Nations (UN) later adopted WDR in 2005 as an international day of observance.
The WDR ceremony in Las Vegas allowed victims’ family members and loved ones to gather together and honor their memory. Family members were provided with a decorated ornament that featured the names of those they had lost in a traffic accident.
Survivors of dangerous traffic accidents also voiced their stories while politicians and advocacy groups called for reform to Nevada’s roadways and traffic safety programs.
So far in 2016, there have been 194 fatalities in traffic-related accidents around the Las Vegas Valley area, according to the director of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Vulnerable Road Users Project, Erin Breen. There have been 272 state-wide traffic fatalities in Nevada.
Breen called for programs such as the Vision Zero Network, Drive Safe Nevada, and the Vulnerable Road Users Project to receive stronger recognition and support in Las Vegas. Breen argued that these kinds of programs have proven effective in cities across the U.S. and have reduced the number of fatalities.
There are few things more traumatic than being injured or losing a loved one in a fatal traffic accident. If this has happened to you, the auto accident attorneys at Henness & Haight will provide you with a free consultation to review your claim and determine if you are entitled to compensation. We work on a contingency fee basis and will not charge you unless you receive compensation or a favorable outcome.