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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWorld Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic VictimsPROCLAMATION WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD TRAFFIC VICTIMS NOVEMBER 19, 2023 WHEREAS, The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR) is commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year; and WHEREAS, It is a high-profile global event to remember the many millions who have been killed and seriously injured on the world’s roads and to acknowledge the suffering of all affected victims, families and communities – millions added each year to countless millions already suffering: a truly tremendous cumulative toll; and WHEREAS, WDoR has also become an important tool for governments and all those whose work involves crash prevention or response to the aftermath of crashes, since it offers the opportunity to demonstrate the enormous scale and impact of road deaths and injuries, call for an end to the often trivial and inappropriate response to road death and injury and advocate for urgent concerted action to stop the carnage; and WHEREAS, Safe streets and roads contribute to the health, equity and sustainability of communities by making it possible for people to walk, bike and safely commute; and WHEREAS, From 2019-2022, Minnesota experienced a 26% rise in traffic fatalities. In 2019 Minnesota had 364 traffic fatalities and last year there were 444; and WHEREAS, In 2022, more than 46,000 people were killed in roadway crashes in the United States, according to the National Safety Council. While this is a slight (0.3%) decrease from the prior year, in 2021 U.S. traffic deaths reached a 16-year high, the largest annual percentage increase in the nation’s reporting history; and WHEREAS, The United States ranks the worst amongst 29 high-income countries analyzed for road safety by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The population-based death rate in the United States is 11.1 per 100,000 population, which is the highest amongst the 29 high-income countries and 2.3 times the average rate of the 28 other countries (4.8 per100,000); and WHEREAS, Speeding and other forms of reckless driving put the people who build and repair roads and streets at risk. On World Day of Remembrance, we too pay tribute to the dedicated emergency crews, police and medical professionals who deal daily with the traumatic aftermath of road crashes. ames B. Hovland, ayor NOW, THEREFORE, the Edina City Council, do hereby proclaim November 19, 2023, to be WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD TRAFFIC VICTIMS in Edina, and that the City Council of the City of Edina supports the following actions related to WDoR: I . Remember all people killed and seriously injured on the roads; and, 2. Acknowledge the crucial work of the emergency services; and, 3. Draw attention to the generally trivial legal response to culpable road deaths and injuries and advocate for an appropriately serious response; and, 4. Advocate for better support for road traffic victims and victim f lies; and, 5. Promote evidence-based actions to prevent and eventually stop ur her road traffic deaths and injuries. Dated this 8th day of November, 2023.