Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Friends,

Today is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Upwards of 4,000 die and 100s of thousands are injured EVERY DAY on our planet’s roads.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012, is Canada’s National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims. On average, 6 people die on Canada’s roads EVERY DAY.

For every road traffic death, approximately 240 are injured (British Columbia statistics).

By Proclamation of Mayor Walter Gray, November 21, 2012, is a Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in the City of Kelowna.

A “day of peace” has been proposed as a global initiative. I propose that we move forward with it here in Kelowna…”a day of respect by and towards all road users; a day on which exceptional care is taken by motorists; a day of courtesy at the wheel and a day when all road laws are respected so that a world (in this case municipal) day without crashes resulting in injury or death will become a reality”.

At least on THAT day, let us avoid needless injuries and deaths on our roadways. Let’s bring the statistical average of 7 people injured in Kelowna EVERY DAY down to zero on THAT day. Let’s ensure nobody dies in a traffic incident in Kelowna on THAT day.

Let’s do the same in West Kelowna.

Those elsewhere in the Province of British Columbia, take hold of the global initiative in YOUR community. If we can at least start with THAT day, perhaps we can start making a difference on EVERY day, in EVERY community.

Please.