National Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Nova Scotia is recognizing its second National Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims today, Nov. 18.

"Every year we lose between 75 and 100 Nova Scotians in road crashes," said Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks. "We must remember that these deaths are preventable."

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal partnered with the Nova Scotia Road Safety Youth Committee, RCMP and the Cobequid Community Health Board to hold the event at the Bedford Wal-Mart to raise awareness and remember those who have lost their lives in road crashes. The Day of Remembrance is observed in many countries annually as part of the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration.

The Nova Scotia Road Safety Youth Committee is a sub-committee of Nova Scotia's Road Safety Advisory Committee.

"Nova Scotia's youth are overrepresented in the number of road crash deaths in the province," said Sarah Blades, co-chair of the Nova Scotia Road Safety Youth committee. "Each year, 28 young Nova Scotians under age 30 will die due to road crashes, never getting the chance to live to their full potential, or say goodbye to friends and family."

In October 2005, the United Nations adopted a resolution calling for governments to mark the third Sunday in November of each year as World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims.

The province is has several initiatives to combat impaired driving including the integrated impaired driving Enforcement Unit, the Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program and most recently, legislation that toughens the consequences for people caught driving with a blood-alcohol level of .05.