November 17, 2010

Day of Remembrance

This coming Sunday, November 21, I'll remember my late husband, Mike Dean, who was killed on this day in 1991 at the young age of 32. I think of him everyday as I do my work for MADD, but the anniversary is a bittersweet day of remembrance.

The world will also mark November 21 this year as the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDOR). This is the fifth year of setting aside the 3rd Sunday in November to honor all those who are killed in road traffic crashes. Some 1.3 million people lose their lives each year in traffic crashes worldwide.

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released a statement containing these words:

"Many tragedies can be avoided through a set of proven, simple measures that benefit not only individuals and families but society at large.

Recognition is growing about the critical development and public health challenge posed by road traffic deaths and injuries. This greater awareness has prompted governments and their partners to step up their response. Earlier this year, the UN General Assembly declared the first-ever “Decade of Action for Road Safety,” providing an opportunity for global action.

I call on Member States, international agencies, civil society organizations, businesses and community leaders to ensure that the Decade leads to real improvements. As a step in this direction, governments should release their national plans for the Decade when it is launched globally on 11 May 2011."

Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of roadway deaths and it is 100% preventable. Please do your part by never driving drunk, buckling up and keeping your eyes only on the road.

If you wish to mark the WDOR, you can go to their Web site (link above) for more ideas. Safe travels!

3 comments:

Donna said...

On this Day of Remembrance, I will lovingly remember my husband, Thomas Robert Fucignas. A young, vital man, who at age 22, tragically lost his life as a passanger in a vehicle that was driven by someone under the influence.

A day that forever changed our world. A day that took my heart and ripped it apart, never to be the same.

A day that without warning, came and so abruptly and tragically took the father of my young children, leaving them to grow up without his precious love and guidance.

A day, that our family lost a son, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, a husband, a father and friend too many.

A day that no one should have to experience and live with, which is why I am also here to share how I so completely support MADD and ALL those who are trying to do all they can in fighting the war against DWI and all its related issues.

To share with my heart, just how I grateful I am to MADD, for it has been through them that I have witnessed and received the kind of understanding and compassion I have never before ever known in the 32 years since my husband's death.

A wonderful organization filled with amazing people, all dedicated in helping victims and their families.

How have seen through them, the power of "together." How together, we can help one another as we grieve and journey through life without our loved ones.

How together, we can help to incorporate the changes that are needed to make our roads a safer place for all to travel.

To do so with the hope of SAVING LIVES.

Doug Wedel said...

Laura,

I appreciate your story here. I realize that it's hard to work against drunk driving especially with so much pain. It's also hard to keep working when we see change happening as such a snail's pace.

I've written maybe 30 essays on road safety, particularly about drunk driving. I have few people responding to them so I don't know if they're any good. And I don't know if they are good enough to reach drunk drivers. But I keep writing. And I try to both reach other people interested in road safety as well as reaching people who drive drunk, to see if I can understand them better and, if possible, influence them for change.

Doug Wedel said...

Laura,

I appreciate your story here. I realize that it's hard to work against drunk driving especially with so much pain. It's also hard to keep working when we see change happening as such a snail's pace.

I feel the WDR is very important. It means we can't deny our society and our local community has a problem with traffic deaths.

I've written maybe 30 essays on road safety, particularly about drunk driving. I have few people responding to them so I don't know if they're any good. And I don't know if they are good enough to reach drunk drivers. But I keep writing. And I try to both reach other people interested in road safety as well as reaching people who drive drunk, to see if I can understand them better and, if possible, influence them for change.