After Remembrance Day, Focus Shifts to Prevention: Road Traffic Deaths Are 100% Preventable

As the world remembers victims of road crashes, experts emphasize the importance of proactive safety measures to save lives, especially among children and young people.

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In the wake of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, an annual event held on the third Sunday of November, advocates and safety experts are urging drivers, parents, and caregivers to recognize that many of these tragedies are entirely preventable. While the day honors those who have lost their lives on the roads, it also serves as a stark reminder that proactive steps can significantly reduce fatalities and injuries.

According to the most recent Global Status Report on Road Safety (2023), roadway crashes remain the leading cause of death for children and young people aged 5 to 29 years old. Despite some progress in reducing overall road traffic deaths—from 1.25 million in 2010 to approximately 1.19 million in 2021—millions of lives continue to be lost each year, many of which could have been prevented.

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Preventive Measures Save Lives

Experts highlight that simple, effective actions can make a critical difference, including:

• Wearing seat belts properly for every trip, including those who are pregnant
• Restraining children properly in correctly installed child safety seats.
• Avoiding distractions, never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or driving while sleepy.
• Adhering to speed limits and adjusting driving speed according to road conditions.

A Call to Action for All Road Users

"Every death on our roads is a tragedy that can be avoided," says Dr James DeCarli, an Injury and Neuroepidemologist, and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) with Public Health Behavior Solutions and Pro Car Seat Safety. "After we honor lives lost, we need to shift our focus from remembrance to prevention by making safety a priority every day."

Support for Parents and Caregivers
To assist families in ensuring their children are properly secured, the National Car Seat Call Center is available for guidance. Drivers, parents, and caregivers can contact the center at (323) 491-6197 for expert advice on car seat safety and installation.

While we continue to honor those we've lost, let us also commit to protecting the living. Every step we take in our behaviors while on the road, saves lives—because prevention is in our hands. Please share this article and/or the downloadable handout, on social media using: #RoadSafety #PreventableDeaths #SaferRoads #ProtectLives


For more information or assistance, visit Pro Car Seat Safety, or contact the National Car Seat Call Center at (323) 491-6197.

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References

• Global status report on road safety 2023. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/46275f9f-ef66-4892-8ddd-a496ef8c1b74/content
• World Day of Remembrance Foundation. (2025, November 16). World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. World Day of Remembrance. https://worlddayofremembrance.org