Consumer VOICE, Road Safety Network (RSN), and Consumer Guild, Lucknow, marked the World Day of Remembrance (WDR) for Road Traffic Victims 2025 on 17 November in Lucknow with a public march and tribute meet to honour lives lost in road crashes and raise awareness about road safety in Uttar Pradesh. Held under the theme “A Call for Speed Management and a Road Safety Action Plan,” the event highlighted the urgent need for scientific speed management, safer road environments, and a comprehensive State Road Safety Action Plan (RSAP) to protect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheeler riders. 

Participants gathered for a tribute ceremony, observed a moment of silence, and took a road safety pledge before beginning the march from Pandey Complex to Mohanlalganj Police Station. Senior police officials, including ACP Vikas Kumar Pandey and SHO D.K. Singh emphasised the critical link between speeding and rising road fatalities, while road safety experts called for evidence-based speed limits, stronger enforcement, and integration of RSAP into state-level planning. Active involvement from women’s groups, youth, students, and civic organisations underscored that road safety is a shared responsibility. According to the MoRTH Road Accidents in India 2023 report, Uttar Pradesh recorded 44,534 road crashes and 23,652 deaths—the highest in India—reflecting the urgent need for statewide road safety reforms and safer mobility systems. The march concluded with a unified call to make road safety a community-driven movement and a pledge to support safer speeds, responsible driving behaviour, and policies that save lives.

This WDoR reminds us that every life matters. With collective commitment and safer road practices, we can build a future where every journey is a safe one.

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To mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR 2025), the Road Safety Network (RSN), Consumer VOICE, and NCHSE organized a Cyclothon in Bhopal to honour lives lost in road crashes and raise awareness on the urgent need for scientific speed management and a comprehensive State Road Safety Action Plan in Madhya Pradesh. Held under the theme “A Call for Speed Management and a Road Safety Action Plan,” the Cyclothon underscored the increasing risk faced by vulnerable road users (VRUs)—pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheeler riders. Former DGP Mr. Arun Gurtoo flagged off the event from the NCHSE premises, where around seventy cyclists rode through key city routes carrying messages like “Slower Speeds, Safer Roads” and “Protect Lives: Reduce Speed.” Participants from citizens’ groups, fitness clubs, students, and civic organisations reinforced that road safety is a shared responsibility.

According to MoRTH’s Road Accidents in India report, Madhya Pradesh recorded 55,327 crashes and 13,798 deaths in 2023, and 56,327 crashes and 14,791 deaths in 2024, with over-speeding being the major cause—highlighting the need for safer speed limits, scientific traffic regulation, and stronger enforcement. Speakers including Dr. Pradip Nandi (DG, NCHSE) and Mr. Ashim Sanyal (CEO, Consumer VOICE—message read out) stressed the importance of integrating scientific speed models, such as those developed by IIT Kharagpur, into MP’s road safety planning. Mr. Gurtoo reminded participants that “behind every statistic is a family that has lost someone they love,” calling for more such public-awareness events across the city.

The event concluded with certificate distribution and a collective pledge to continue promoting the message “Remember. Support. Act.” and to make speed management a people’s movement for safer roads across Madhya Pradesh.

Key Highlights

• Cyclothon organized under the theme “A Call for Speed Management and a Road Safety Action Plan.”
• Flagged off by Former DGP of Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Arun Gurtoo.
• Seventy-plus cyclists participated with messages promoting safe speeds.
• MoRTH data shows rising crashes and deaths due to speeding in MP.
• Experts emphasised integrating scientific speed models and strong enforcement.

The Cyclothon reaffirmed that road safety begins with each one of us. By choosing safe speeds and supporting evidence-based policies, we can prevent tragedies and protect future generations

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On the third Sunday of November each year, the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) is observed. In order to honour the suffering of all impacted victims, families, and communities, it is important to recall the many millions who have been killed or gravely injured on the world’s roadways.

It is also a time to show support for the families, friends, and other loved ones who have been impacted by a car accident, as well as to promote the rights of road accident victims globally. It is also a day to express gratitude to emergency personnel who deal with traffic accidents and to think on the enormous toll these accidents, along with the injuries and deaths they cause, exact on global economies, healthcare systems, and most importantly, people.

According to the WHO’s Global Status Report on Road Safety, which was released in December 2018, there are now 1.35 million fatalities caused by traffic accidents per year. The greatest cause of death for those aged 5 to 29 is increasingly traffic-related injuries. 

Justice is highlighted on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in 2022. The legal system includes traffic law enforcement, detailed collision investigations to determine whether a crime was committed and to prevent a repeat, criminal prosecution when necessary, and civil damages. When implemented seriously, fairly, and consistently, such a system is what victims of traffic accidents who have been hurt or lost a family member because of someone breaking the law or being negligent deserve and wish for. It also plays a significant role in prevention and guarantees that the lessons from their tragedies are applied in the future to prevent similar incidents.

Causes of Road Accidents

• Over-speeding and careless driving were the two major causes of road accidents that claims the most lives.
• Driving while drunk increases the danger of a collision that ends in death or serious injuries. This risk is increased by the use of any psychoactive chemical or narcotic.
• Non-use of seat belts, kid restraints, and motorcycle helmets is another big cause. Correct helmet use can reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 42% and the risk of head injuries by 69%.
• There are numerous different distractions that might affect judgement. Mobile phone distraction is a serious issue hampering road safety.
• Unsafe road infrastructure is also a big cause of road accidents. The safety of a road can be significantly impacted by its design. All road users’ safety should ideally be taken into consideration while designing roads.

India currently holds the third-place spot on the list of nations with the highest number of fatal road accidents, with more than 420 people losing their lives there every day. In India, there were 4, 03,116 road accidents in 2021 that resulted in 1, 55,622 fatalities and 3, 71,884 injuries, according to an analysis of data from the National Crime Records Bureau.

Although there has been an increase in safety awareness in recent years, it is concerning to note that the number of fatalities from traffic accidents rose by 16.8% from 1,33,201 in 2020 to 1,55,622 in 2021. In addition, there was a 13.6% rise in the overall number of traffic accidents between 2020 and 2021.

Rapid reductions in fatalities and injuries can result from better traffic law enforcement. Driver behaviour can be significantly altered by requiring them to drive under the speed limit, looking out for cyclists and pedestrians, putting on seatbelts, abstaining from driving while intoxicated, and utilising kid safety seats.

References

https://www.nextias.com/current-affairs/02-07-2022/road-safety

https://worlddayofremembrance.org

https://www.un.org/en/observances/road-traffic-victims-day

https://nationaltoday.com/world-day-of-remembrance-for-road-traffic-victims/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/05/9-ways-cities-can-prevent-road-crash-deaths/

https://www.financialexpress.com/express-mobility/savelife-foundations-piyush-tewari-lists-out-5-is-of-enhancing-road-safety-in-india/2704326/