North Carolina Observes Road Traffic Victims Day
Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed Sunday, November 15, as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in North Carolina.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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Governor Josh Stein proclaimed Sunday, November 15, World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in North Carolina. NCAST and partner groups are organizing public events across the state on November 13 and 15.
Why it matters
The observance honors people killed or seriously injured in crashes and recognizes first responders while promoting safer driving. It comes as North Carolina recorded 1,524 traffic deaths in 2025, a figure that still underscores the scale of the problem statewide.
North Carolina recorded 1,524 traffic deaths in 2025, a 12% decline from 2024 and the lowest annual total in five years. More than 40% of people killed were not wearing seatbelts, and the source does not detail crash causes.
The players
Josh Stein
Josh Stein is the Governor of North Carolina who issued the proclamation designating November 15 as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
NCAST
NCAST is the North Carolina Association of Safety Trainers organization that is organizing public remembrance events with partner groups across the state.
The details
Participants will display empty pairs of shoes to remember people killed in crashes. Public events are open to the public and media, and will include local and state officials, law enforcement and NCAST teen ambassadors.
Timeline
Friday, November 13: Greensboro remembrance event at City Center Park, 10 a.m.
Sunday, November 15: World Day of Remembrance observed statewide
Sunday, November 15, 12:30 p.m.: Lillington and Wilmington remembrance events
Sunday, November 15, 1 p.m.: Asheville remembrance event at HomeTrust Park
Sunday, November 15, 2 p.m.: Greenville remembrance event at N.C. DMV and State Highway Patrol building
Seasonal Patterns
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is observed each November, and North Carolina's 2025 traffic death total of 1,524 marks a 12% drop from 2024. Its status as the state's lowest annual count in five years places the observance against a recent multi-year backdrop.
Residents can attend a remembrance event in their area, including Greensboro, Lillington, Wilmington, Asheville or Greenville. Wearing a seatbelt on every trip addresses the factor cited in more than 40% of crash deaths.
The takeaway
Roughly 40% of people killed in North Carolina crashes were not buckled up, a gap that individual drivers and passengers can close on every trip. The state's recent decline shows that sustained attention to road safety can move the numbers.
What happens next
Public remembrance events are scheduled for Friday, November 13 in Greensboro and for multiple locations across North Carolina on Sunday, November 15.
Further reading
For broader context on impaired and risky behaviors behind crashes, see Substance Abuse coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WCTI.
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