THE National Road Safety Council (NRSC) will join with hundreds of road safety advocates across the globe in recognising World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, on Sunday, November 15.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims — initiated by road crash victims in 1993 and was adopted by the United Nation on October 26, 2005 — is commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year. The day is dedicated to remembering millions of individuals killed and injured in road crashes, their family members and relatives who emotionally suffer and members of their communities.

In Jamaica, there will be two events to mark the occasion — a candlelight vigil on Friday, November 13, and a church service on November 15 — spearheaded by the NRSC.

The vigil will be held at Emancipation Park in St Andrew from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Paula Fletcher, NRSC executive director, is encouraging families, relatives and friends of individuals who died as a result of road crashes, to join the council in remembering them.

“Everyone in Jamaica has been affected by road crashes, whether directly or indirectly. We either were close to someone who died in a road crash or know someone who have been emotionally hurt due to the loss of a family member, relative or friend due to a road crash,” said Fletcher.

“Some family members, relatives and friends still mourn the loss of their loved ones months and years after. It is for this reason and more, we are calling on Jamaicans to join us in recognising World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims at Emancipation Park at our Candlelight Vigil. Let us all come out and comfort each other, especially the family members of those who died in road crashes,” Fletcher added.

The council is requesting family members, relatives and friends of individuals who died in road fatalities, to bring photographs of their loved ones and a flashlight to shine on their pictures. A message from the Prime Minister, who is the NRSC chairman, will be read followed by an address by Sharlene Rädlein, Ms Universe Jamaica and NRSC’s newest Road Safety Ambassador.

On November 15, the NRSC will host their annual World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims Church Service at Power of Faith Ministries in Portmore, St Catherine. The Prime Minister’s message will again be read on this occasion, while the NRSC vice-chairman Dr Lucien Jones and the executive director Fletcher will address the congregation.

The council is hoping that as Jamaicans remember their road crash victims, they will recommit themselves to safer road use to avoid more tragedies and suffering from road crashes.