Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

A Day to Remember the Tens of Thousands of Americans Killed in Traffic

Traffic collisions are one of the leading killers in America, particularly for young people. But outside of the occasional roadside memorial, there is little lasting public remembrance of the victims -- and the problem.

This map shows the locations of traffic deaths in Seattle over the last 10 years. Map: Seattle Department of Transportation
The locations of traffic deaths in Seattle over the last 10 years. Map: Seattle Department of Transportation
false

We don't see football players wearing colored socks to raise awareness about traffic violence. There aren't large walks to remember victims, or heated demonstrations, except in a few cities.

There's a movement to change that. November 20 is the World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Traffic Violence, which aims to elevate awareness of , writes Ryan Packer at the Urbanist:

In 2015, over 35,000 people in the US were killed on our nation’s roadways. This was the largest percentage increase over the previous year in more than fifty years. Every single day, more than one hundred lives were lost, scattered across our sprawling country in countless, disparate tragedies.

The trend did not slow for 2016. For the first half of 2016, we again saw a huge increase of over 10% from the same period of 2015. America appears to be developing a resurgence in the epidemic of traffic violence, one that appeared to be on a downward trajectory since the 1980s. The causes for this can be debated, but the fact that our roads are not anywhere near safe enough remains undisputed.

In Seattle, the numbers are not insignificant either. In the past 10 years, over 240 people have lost their lives in the city limits.

November 20th is World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Traffic Violence. Worldwide, a day is set aside to acknowledge the human cost that we have amortized into our transportation system.

This Thursday, at city hall, there will be a gathering at noon, to prepare for the World Day of Remembrance. On hand will be 240 cut-out silhouettes of human beings, a small attempt to represent the life of someone that was lost. Neighborhood groups will receive these and bring them to their communities. We will share stories of those who lost their lives, and those who were impacted by these events.

There will be events marking the Day of Remembrance in several American cities, including a gathering at City Hall in NYC. Check with your local street safety advocacy organization to see if anything is planned in your city.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Greater Greater Washington game out how funding for transit and roads will be affected by the Trump presidency. D Magazine lays out a framework for evaluating transit, as opposed to roads. And the Urbanist reports that Seattle's plan to top its buried waterfront highway with another highway-like road may face a legal challenge.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Five of the Ugliest Transportation Policies In the ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill

Here's a rundown of some of the transportation provisions in the Republicans' reconciliation package, and what they might mean for your community.

July 10, 2025

Viva La Thursday’s Headlines

Why is French transit ridership up 10 percent since before the pandemic, while American transit ridership is down 23 percent?

July 10, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines Are Bigger and Beautiful-er

There's a lot of bad news in the Big Beautiful Bill — but it also may have helped kill a major highway expansion in Oregon.

July 9, 2025

Removing ‘Rainbow Crosswalks’ Won’t Make America’s Arterials Safer

Secretary Duffy wants to tackle dangerous arterials. So why is he coming after rainbow crosswalks most often seen on narrow city roads?

July 9, 2025

The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Is About Our Transportation Future, Too

Transportation didn't get a lot of mention in the public discussion of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But it's everywhere.

July 8, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines of Many Colors

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called rainbow crosswalks "a distraction" and called on cities to eliminate them.

July 8, 2025
See all posts