Millions of families lose a precious loved one every year due to road traffic accidents18 November 2012 – Celebrated this year on Sunday 18 November, the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2012 carries the theme: Now is the time to learn from the past. An annual global event, the Remembrance Day is marked to pay respect to the thousands of people who are killed and injured as a result of road crashes every day. It also seeks to recognise the work of all those involved in the aftermath of a crash – fire, police and ambulance personnel, doctors, nurses and counsellors.

Every year, about 1.3 million people are lost due to road crashes and between 20 and 50 million people suffer non-fatal injuries. Road traffic injuries are estimated to account for 1.7% of all years lived with disability. In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region road traffic injuries represent a serious public health issue.

Road traffic deaths have been steadily on the rise over the past decade. In 2004, road traffic injury was the sixth leading cause of death in the Region accounting for an estimated 146 000 deaths and 2.8 million non-fatal injuries. Five years later, in 2009, the Global Status Report on Road Safety revealed that the Eastern Mediterranean Region, together with the African Region, had the highest road traffic fatality rates in the world.