Malta observes World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Every year, World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR) draws attention to road traffic injuries as the leading killer of children and young adults. Malta observed WDoR with a public event on Sunday, 18 November 2018 and an international road safety conference on Monday, 19 November.

The fact that, even on the small island of Malta, 5 people are killed or injured on local roads each day demonstrates the urgent need for action. In 2018 alone, the country recorded 16 deaths and serious injuries from road traffic crashes.

In keeping with this year’s theme for WDoR – “Roads have stories” – survivors and families of victims gathered at the Sunday event to share personal stories and draw strength from each other in a memorial candle walk. The event was emotionally charged, but also a strong call for change. During the event itself, 2 separate road crashes occurred in Malta, both resulting in serious injuries. This highlights the urgent need for multisectoral action to preventing further tragedies on the roads.

The road safety conference on the following day was opened by Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta, via video message, as well as the Honourable Christopher Fearne, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health of Malta.

Minister Fearne noted, “Every life is precious, and we as Government, society and individuals must all do our ut¬most to ensure that other families, like so many we know, are spared the unimaginable suffering of losing a loved one or living with the trauma and disability caused by these devastating and life-changing events.”

Mr Jean Todt, United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, was among the many international speakers at the event. He emphasized the global burden of road crashes, explaining that 1.25 million people perish this way every year. The conference raised awareness of the importance of a whole-of-government approach to road safety.

The conference focused on multisectoral action using the safe systems approach to road safety. The safe systems approach recognizes and accommodates for human error, but states that such errors should not result in deaths or serious injuries.

While the conference had a technical focus, it also included moments of emotional reflection in which survivors and family members of victims spoke on panels addressed to participants advocating for change in Malta. A youth panel highlighted the magnitude of road traffic injury among youth, as well as the role of youth in the planning of local, national and international road safety activities.

These activities, organized by WHO, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health, gathered 200 participants including government officials, researchers, health professionals, local community members, victims of road traffic crashes and their families, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, and youth. All levels of Maltese society showcased their commitment to change.