Verra Mobility honors road traffic victims on World Day of Remembrance 2025

Each year, on the third Sunday of November, the international community recognizes those who have been killed or injured in road crashes on World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. In 2024, an estimated 39,345 people died in U.S. traffic crashes; however, promising data show a decrease in fatalities in 2025.

Earlier this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) projected an 8.2% decline in roadway deaths during the first half of the year — the lowest mid-year fatality rate since 2014. This positive news comes even as vehicle miles traveled increased, showing the full impact of improved road safety.

While these numbers give us reasons for hope and celebrations, far too many people are still killed every day on our roads. Here are some of their stories:

• A mother and her two young sons were critically injured in California this August when a red-light runner hit them. On average, there are more than two deaths per day due to red-light runners in the U.S., according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
• Four teens’ lives were permanently altered when the 17-year-old driver crashed at high speed in Florida this August. All passengers went to the hospital, a 16-year-old passenger later died, and the driver now faces felony charges. Speeding is a contributing factor in nearly 30% of all traffic fatalities.
• An eight-year-old student was struck and killed by a vehicle illegally passing a school bus when the child was boarding her bus in Georgia last year. Passing a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended is against the law in every state, yet nearly one in four drivers is unaware of this law.

Everyone can take action to make our roads safer. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 87% of drivers engage in unsafe driving behaviors, indicating that significant progress is still needed.

Improved driver behavior, driven through awareness campaigns and road safety enforcement, saves lives. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that automated cameras reduced the fatal red light running crash rate of large cities by 21% and the rate of all types of fatal crashes by 14% — another promising example of how communities can implement changes to make roads safer.

This year, we hope you’ll join Verra Mobility and dozens of other advocates in remembering these victims and renewing your commitment to changing driver behavior to create safer streets for pedestrians and drivers alike.