MADD marks National Day of Remembrance

MADD Canada
News Release

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MADD Canada, working with Transport Canada, today hosted the first annual National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims for our country. In a special ceremony in Ottawa, representatives from victims' groups, road safety organizations, police and government agencies all gathered to make a statement that Canada can achieve safer roads.

This year, world organizations are focused on curbing unnecessary impaired driving deaths and injuries. In Canada, more than 2,700 Canadians are killed annually and another 200,000- plus are seriously injured on Canada's roads. There is an average of 8 Canadians killed daily in road crashes and 40% of these crashes can be attributed to alcohol impairment.

National President Margaret Miller spoke for thousands of impaired driving victims when she observed, "This National Day recognition is significant in two ways. First, it signals our collective resolve to make our roads safe and not forget those victims who lost their lives so needlessly."

"More importantly, whether the loss of life is a result of a senseless act like impaired driving, or by some other means, victims' families and friends gain strength and a special comfort from the unqualified support they receive from the larger community of concerned citizens."

"So, the day helps many with their grieving process and it helps us, as a society, focus on solutions to reduce the loss of life on our roads," stated Mrs. Miller.

Andrew Murie, MADD Canada's CEO stated that Canada is taking the challenge of curbing deaths and human carnage seriously. "It starts with this National Day of Remembrance, which we hope will motivate Canadians to look for solutions on making our roads safer. As a country, we are supportive of the U.N. resolution to adopt safer driving habits and to reduce the numbers of deaths and injuries on Canadian roads by 30 per cent by 2010."

Canada's National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims is set to coincide with a United Nations' World Day recognition for road crash victims. Each year 1.2 million people are killed in road traffic crashes around the world. That's more than 3,400 people killed daily – and tens of thousands more are disabled for life.

More information about what the Canadian Government is doing about road safety can be found on Transport Canada's website: www.tc.gc.ca/hookedonroadsafety/menu.htm

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