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Governor Issues Proclamation, Events Planned to Remember Those Lost

Gov. Josh Stein has proclaimed this coming Sunday, Nov. 15, World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in North Carolina.

The proclamation recognizes an international day to remember people killed and seriously injured on our roads, acknowledge first responders and advocate for better driving habits.

The proclamation notes that:

  • Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for young people in the United States

  • The average vehicle on a U.S. roadway weighs more than 4,400 pounds

  • About 1.2 million people are killed in road crashes each year

  • In recent years North Carolina lost an average of 1,675 people a year to crashes

  • Crashes are preventable

“We all bear responsibility to focus, drive carefully and keep each other safe,” the governor said in his proclamation.

The NC Alliance for Safe Transportation (NCAST) and partner groups sincerely thank the governor for drawing attention to the problem. NCAST, the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North Carolina Families for Safe Streets, the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at North Carolina State University and others organize annual World Day of Remembrance events on or around the third Sunday of November, which this year is Nov. 15.

We gather empty pairs of shoes to remember the people lost. Images from past events are available in this Google Drive folder and may be republished without attribution. NCAST will hold four events this year:

Asheville

Sun 1:00pm
HomeTrust Park
30 Buchanan Place

Greenville

Sun 2:00pm
NC DMV / SHP Bldg.
4651 N. Creek Dr.

Lillington

Sun 12:30pm
Crossroads Church
1301 S. Main St.

Wilmington

Sun 1:00pm
City Hall
929 N. Front St.

At least two other events are planned by partner safety groups:

Greensboro

Fri, Nov 13 • 10:00am
City Center Park
200. N. Elm St.

PARTNER EVENT

Winston-Salem

Sun 2:00pm
Forsyth Cty Cent Library
660 W. 5th St.

PARTNER EVENT

All six events are open to the public and the media. Local and state officials will attend, as will state and local law enforcement and NCAST Teen Ambassadors, some of whom will share personal stories of loss.

This year NCAST also reached out to more than 250 houses of worship and faith communities asking them to publish the following prayer request in bulletins, newsletters and anywhere else they publish these requests:

Ahead of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Sunday, November 15, please pray for the families and friends of the 1,524 people killed in traffic crashes in North Carolina last year. And please pray that we will all show one another love and care by always being safe and responsible on the road.

That 2025 fatality total is North Carolina’s lowest in 5 years, according to figures compiled by the NC Division of Motor Vehicles. It’s 12% lower than the number of people North Carolina lost in 2024.

“We’re heartened by that drop,” NCAST Board Chair Tiffany Wright said. “But you look at all those empty shoes, and you think about the people, including children, lost to carelessness on our roads, and you have to conclude: We can and must do better. Slow down. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t look at your phone. And wear your seatbelt – more than 40% of people who died in crashes weren’t wearing one.”

The governor’s proclamation is attached, and the wording is pasted below. For more information contact Travis Fain – travis@faincommunications.com or 919.630.9296.

Proclamation

(Shift-click or right click image below to download PDF)

WHEREAS, every year some 1.2 million people are killed in road crashes worldwide; in recent years North Carolina alone has averaged 1,675 roadway deaths and more than 114,000 injuries each year; and

WHEREAS, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States for teenagers and children; and these crashes are preventable; and

WHEREAS, the average vehicle on U.S. roadways weighs more than 4,400 pounds; we all bear responsibility to focus, drive carefully, and keep each other safe; and

WHEREAS, World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims falls On the third Sunday of each November and is a globally recognized day to remember the millions killed and injured on the world’s roadways; and

WHEREAS, organizations including the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North Carolina Families for Safe Streets, the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at North Carolina State University, and the North Carolina Alliance for Safe Transportation have been organizing and supporting World Day of Remembrance events on the third Sunday Of November; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina recognizes the third Sunday of November as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims to raise awareness and to honor the lives lost on our roadways;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSH STEIN, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim November 15, 2026, as “WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD TRAFFIC VICTIMS” in North Carolina and commend its observance.

PDF

About NCAST

The North Carolina Alliance for Safe Transportation (NCAST) was created in 2022 to communicate safe driving messages, engage North Carolinians and champion policies that promote better behavior across all forms of transportation. It has one goal: reduce the number of transportation-related crashes, injuries and fatalities in North Carolina.