Upcoming memorial brings awareness to traffic collision victims
Public invited to honor lives lost in road collisions this Sunday
– The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments and public safety partners will host a community memorial and road safety event to honor those who have lost their lives or been seriously injured in road traffic collisions. The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims event will take place this Sunday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse Annex, located at 1050 Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo.
The event includes a reception from 12 to 12:30 p.m., a memorial from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and a press conference at 1:30 p.m. Members of the public who wish to share stories of loved ones lost or injured in traffic collisions are invited to sign up in advance for a three-minute speaking time. The deadline for speaker registration is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13. For more information or to sign up, visit the event website .
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is an annual global event held on the third Sunday in November to remember those who have died or been injured in road traffic incidents and to acknowledge the suffering of victims and their families. This year's theme, "Traffic Deaths and Serious Injuries are Preventable," emphasizes the goal of reducing traffic-related harm through community involvement in road safety.
The program will feature road safety speakers, public leaders, a bell-ringing ceremony, a rescue helicopter flyover, a photo memory board, and a white rose display to honor those lost. A collection of empty shoes representing deceased loved ones will also be on display.
The event is part of a broader effort by the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments to improve road safety through its Regional Road Safety Action Plan. Funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets for All program, this plan is aligned with the Road to Zero Coalition, a campaign by the Federal Highway Administration aimed at ending traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2050.
SLOCOG encourages public participation in this initiative through a survey and interactive map where residents can provide input on regional road safety concerns. The survey aims to gather feedback from community members about their experiences on local roadways, while the interactive map allows participants to highlight specific locations where they feel safety improvements are needed. Information on the Regional Road Safety Action Plan is available on the project's website .
