On Sunday 16 November, the Eastern Partnership Road Safety Observatory marked World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

This annual global commemoration acknowledges a stark reality: when individuals are killed or severely injured in traffic crashes, the impact extends far beyond statistics. The theme of this year’s commemoration was Lost Talents, recognising that when people are killed or severely injured in road traffic crashes, the world loses more than just individuals — it loses their potential, their ideas, their future impact on society.

We are proud to share the activities organised and shared by local NGOs across our member countries in honour of this special day. At the Observatory, we are committed to reducing deaths and serious injuries through supporting member countries to improve data quality and develop evidence-based policy that saves lives.

Moldova: Children's Voices for Road Safety

In Moldova, the national road safety NGO Automobile Club of Moldova organised a poignant commemoration at a children's football practice and ballet class. Young participants delivered powerful imagery illustrating the potential loss that unsafe roads can inflict on families and communities. However, the Automobile Club of Moldova also brought a message of hope – reminding us that no road death or injury is inevitable. Their calls to action for reduced speed limits in high pedestrian areas and increasing road safety awareness among young people are simple and effective steps in delivering a system that protects people’s lives.

Georgia: Broadcasting Messages of Hope and Loss

The Partnership for Road Safety Foundation in Georgia launched a new awareness video that has been broadcast on social media and national TV channels. The emotional film reminds viewers that crash victims were someone's family member, and that somewhere, loved ones continue waiting for them to come home, a message designed to encourage greater caution and responsibility among all road users.

Azerbaijan: Education and Remembrance Combined

The National Automobile Club of Azerbaijan (AMAK) commemorated the day by organising a public display and educational activities at the Deniz Shopping Mall in Baku. The initiative included a "Tree of Life" board where members of the public could write messages and remember loved ones lost to road crashes. Additionally, they provided a table of educational road safety activities for children, combining remembrance with proactive prevention efforts for the next generation of road users.

These coordinated activities across EaP RSO member countries demonstrate a shared commitment to transforming grief into action and ensuring that every road traffic victim is remembered not just as a statistic, but as a person whose loss strengthens the resolve to create safer roads for all.

Remember. Support. Act.