Seychelles remembers victims of road traffic accidents |23 November 2023
Victims of road traffic accidents were remembered during a special mass yesterday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, organised by the Ministry of Transport and the Road Safety Advisory Committee as part of Road Safety Week activities.
The event coincided with World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Accidents Victims, commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year, which this year fell on November 19.
During the service, those in attendance lit a candle for victims of traffic accidents and heard testimony of Iza Amade, who was involved in a major road accident a few years back.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, there were 18 fatalities last year, a record high compared to other years. It is considered an actual pandemic, affecting primarily the vulnerable and young people, which in addition to the trauma of injury and bereavement has also a devastating economic impact for countries, communities and families.
Therefore, during the new Decade of Action 2021-2030 the World Day of Remembrance will have the important role of helping to achieve the 50% road casualty reduction target.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Accidents Victims is a high-profile global event to remember the many millions who have been killed and seriously injured on the world’s roads and to acknowledge the suffering of all affected victims, families and communities – millions added each year to countless millions already suffering: a truly tremendous cumulative toll.
This Day has also become an important tool for governments and all those whose work involves crash prevention or response to the aftermath of crashes, since it offers the opportunity to demonstrate the enormous scale and impact of road deaths and injuries. It is also a call for an end to the often trivial and inappropriate response to road death and injury and advocate for urgent concerted action to stop the carnage.
Compiled by Patsy Canaya/press release from the Ministry of Health
