World Day of Remembrance – November 19, 2023
[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] For road traffic victims Event I want to extend my condolences to All of the families in our city who have Lost loved ones to traffic Violence today today we will make sure That they are not Forgotten and that their legacies live On through us as we continue to work our To make our streets Safer 334 that is the number of lives we've Lost on Charlotte streets due to traffic Violence from 2019 to 2023 this Gathering of friends family And neighbors here today represents each Of those very precious Lives so world day of Rememberance for Road traffic victims is a very High-profile event to remember the many
Millions who have been killed and Seriously injured on the world's roads And to acknowledge the suffering of all Affected victims families and Communities millions are added each year To countless m Millions already Suffering a truly tremendous cumulative Toll so world day of remembrance is Commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year and World day's History began in the United Kingdom in 1993 when several churches held services In memory of road traffic Victims these events were coordinated by Road peace The United Kingdom's charity for road Traffic victims and an Affiliated member Of the European Federation of road Traffic victims since 1995 all organizations Under the Umbrella of the European Federation of Road traffic victims agreed to remember Road victims worldwide on this day the Third Sunday of November in 2005 the United Nation Nations adopted world day of remembrance As the appropriate acknowledgement for Victims of road traffic crashes and Their families today world day is Commemorated all across the continents Not only by those advocating for road Safety and Road victims but also by Governments and related Stakeholders so families for Safe
Streets first brought this event to the United States and has now joined with The vision zero Network the road to to Zero Coalition and it could be me to Support those holding world day of Remembrance events in their community so In 20122 so last year there were more Than 60 events held across communities In the United States and the interest is Growing these annual events are Especially important because traffic Deaths are on the rise dramatically in The US far outpacing other high inome Nations and we have the opportunity to Make real change with heightened Commitment at the Federal level including more funds for Safety including Vision zero so across The globe world day of remembrance Efforts share the overarching goals to Remember support and act so remember Those killed and seriously injured in Crashes support those personally Impacted act by advocating and Implementing evidence-based actions to End this Crisis on our Roadways Safe Streets really do save Lives and today we are asking for You to help as we are focusing on our Vulnerable Road users and we ask that You always be aware of your surroundings And when you drive do so without Distraction or under the influence of
Substances drive for the conditions of The road and do not speed and I cannot Emphasize that enough that speed kills Take responsible actions and obey the Speed limit the city of Charlotte Proclaimed Charlotte as a vision zero City in March 2019 and they reinforce This commitment through the adoption of Their strategic Mobility plan in 2022 this plan aims to eliminate all Traffic rated deaths and serious Injuries while increasing the safety Health and Mobility for all so the Charlotte Department of Transportation Leads the implementation of the vision Zero action plan which is a datadriven Approach to Traffic Safety that focuses On public dollars on areas that Statistically create the most benefit we Work closely with our vision zero task Force the members and our partners and We focus on education enforcement Engineering projects like sidewalks Crosswalks bike lanes and better Street Lighting to make this Vision a reality Our vision zero task force has over 60 Members and thank you for those that are With us Today and those those Representatives Come from the public health the Transportation police fire and medic we Also have policy makers and Community Advocates we could not do this important Work alone and really our streets are
Our Responsibility we lean on this Collaborative opportunity to continue to Make strides to reach zero deaths due to Traffic violence And like I said I sincerely want to Thank our task members our task force Members because they help us do this Tremendous and important work so today I Would like to thank North Carolina Families for Safe Streets sustain Charlotte the Charlotte meinberg Police Department Charlotte communications and Marketing and the dedicated emergency Crews police and other medical Professionals who deal daily with the Traumatic aftermath of Road crashes we Work handin hand with Cmpd as it comes to the important work We're doing in the city so at this point In the program I would like to introduce Detective Andrew worthy to come up and Share some thoughts thank you very Much Ladies and gentlemen family and friends Today We Gather here to commemorate the World day of remembrance for road Traffic victims an emotional occasion That compels us to reflect upon the Devastating impact of Road collisions on Countless lives around the globe this Day serves as a stark reminder for lives Lost families shattered and communities Affected by road traffic
Incidents the theme of this year's World Day of remembrance is closely Intertwined with the global initiative Known as Vision Zero vision zero is not Merely a goal it is a commitment to Fundamentally alter or approach to Road Safety striving for a world where no Life is lost due due to preventable Road Collisions as we remember those who have Lost their lives on the roads we must Also acknowledge the imperative for Change Vision zero demands a paradigm Shift in our attitude toward Road Safety It calls for a holistic approach That incorporates better infrastructure Infrastructure stringent regulations Enhan public awareness and the active Involvement of all stakeholders each Collision is a stark reminder that we Must and can do better we cannot accept Road fatalities as an inevitable part of Modern-day life every number is a Statistic that represents a human life a Family torn apart and a community Forever Changed by observing this world d Remembrance and aligning ourselves with The principles of vision zero we commit To creating safer roads for everyone it Is a pledge to work collectively towards A future where Road collisions are not Seen as a mere statistic but a Preventable tragedy that we can and will Eliminate let us use this day as a
Catalyst for change as remember those Who have lost let us also Envision a Future where our roads are safe for all Where families can travel without fear And where the world day of remembrance Becomes a testament to our Collective Success in building a world with zero Road traffic victims thank You thank you Andrew now I'd like to Introduce Eric zaval he represents Sustain Charlotte and we're so thankful For their partnership Eric Thank you Debbie and good morning Everyone uh and I want to start off by Expressing my sincere condolences to all That have lost world loved ones due to Traffic violence on our streets and Before I start I just want to Share uh this is a little personal Connection with a neighbor we lost in Nota this last year in January uh she was uh a young woman who Loved the NOA neighborhood and we lost Her while she was uh biking in the plaza Neighborhood so uh everybody I'm sure Has been touched By this this situation that we are here Today for remembering folks who've lost Their lives so as We Gather to remember And honor our family members our friends And our neighbors who have lost their Lives we look for Hope amidst the Tragedies at sustained Charlotte we
Mobilize residents to advocate for Policy funding and the political will That is required to make our streets Safer we're proud to say that we've been Working closely with the City since it started its uh Vision zero Action plan task force from the very Beginning it's been an honor to Contribute to such an important Initiative and we're committed to doing Our part to make our streets safer for Everyone in our conversations with Charlotte residents who support but are Skeptical about whether the goal of zero Deaths and serious injuries is a Feasible Target and we tell them that Every life matters and zero is the only Acceptable gold it is common to hear That we have multiple priorities on our Streets however the word priority was Never meant to have a plural form by Definition a priority is the thing that Is the most important above all others So again as we did this time last year We call on our city leaders all Residents of Charlotte to make the Priority for Charlotte Streets uh to be safe is safety and not To uh prioritize speed or prioritize Convenience and not to reduce The traffic congestion the only priority Truly is Safety finding traffic fatal fatalities Requires a comprehensive approach that
Includes education personal Responsibilities fair and consistent Enforcement of the traffic laws and most Importantly streets designed for safety As we um educate and share you know what Sustained Charlotte is to Charlotte Residents uh I always tell them that Design is key you know that is the most Important piece of anything you could Have signs you could have warnings you Could even have fines but really truly The design of our city really is what Will be fundamental to getting to Vision Zero however most of our history of our Streets have been designed uh with have Not been designed with safety as its Priority we still face this tragic Legacy of more than half a century of Our street design that prioritizes speed And convenience of the drivers over Safety in the lives of all people who Use our streets one way to enhance this Design is clearly defining which Transportation mode has priority on our Streets this Clarity would help with our Diff today's difficult decisions uh when Changing our streets to make them safer Most Charlotte streets are still Designed to move as many cars as Possible in the least amount of time Rather than safely so when crashes do Occur the results are too often fatal The number of pedestrian deaths across The country is growing faster than the
Traffic fatalities overall jumping more Than 80% since 2009 because most of Charlotte's Road network was built During the Golden Age of automobiles it Is neither cheap nor politically easy to Redesign our streets for safety for all Who use use them but Nevertheless don't ever underestimate The power of our Voice as a community of advocates for Safe Streets we have the power to tell Our local state leaders and our Neighbors that these Investments matter Because the lives of our loved ones Matter their lives matter more than Speeding to your destination or running A red light or saving a few seconds or a Minute at moment most we have Seen that when we stand together and ask For safer streets change actually can Happen in fact we've seen progress in Making our streets safer and more Equitable over the last few Years Charlotte's do has made numerous Improvements uh Investments including Infrastructure to reduce speeding Pedestrian Crossing beacons protected Bike Lanes inter section improvements to Reduce unsafe vehicle turning and safer Sidewalks uh and lighting and a lot more Last week in fact city council improved Increasing the fines to $100 for Blocking Transit pedestrian and bike Infrastructure we thank them for passing
This Common Sense approach to making the City safer and look forward to making Sure that that is working and if it Doesn't then maybe we need to change Course but we um always keep working and There's so much more left to be done we Continue to Advocate side by side for These needed changes so we invite you Today to join us at sustain Charlotte And use your voice to become advocates For safer streets so that one day Everyone can safely get to the places They need and want to go again thank you So much for having me here to share These important words with everyone Thank You thank you Eric you you touched on Just some critical important work that We're doing together so thank you for That so it is at this point in our event That we would like to name uh the lost Loved ones so today in each day moving Forward we honor these precious lives And pledge to Remember support and Act and the City of Charlotte is committed to creating Safe Streets and saving lives and at this Time I would like to invite anyone in Attendance who has lost a loved one due To traffic violence to come forward and Speak your loved ones name and then Write their name on our Memorial poster Provided and at that point I'd like to Then conclude the program after that so
Please um would love to invite anyone up That would like to to speak their loved One's Name please thank You hi uh our son that we lost last year Was Billy Atkins he died made the 17th Last year on in an automobile Accident Is there anyone else that would like to Come up and speak a loved one's Name thank You thank You uh it was my daughter bandra Newman Uh January the 5th 2019 19 thank you Very much thank You is there anyone else that would like To come up and speak a loved one's Name all right if not that concludes our Program for today and I greatly appre Appreciate your support today thank You
Living in Charlotte North Carolina
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There’s a lot to love about living in Charlotte. It’s a city that offers a big-city feel, but keeps things down-to-earth and friendly. You’ll hear a little bit of southern twang as you walk around town, and the city has a true community feel. It’s easy to find a quiet spot for a glass of wine and conversation, but the city also has plenty of options to keep you busy when you want to get out.
For instance, you can take a day and explore the city’s art museum scene or make a date for dinner at one of the many trendy restaurants that are scattered throughout Charlotte. There are even theaters, where you can spend a leisurely evening with a symphony or the opera.
Charlotte is also home to NASCAR, which brings in the crowds. The race track is located in Concord, NC, and the area boasts a number of famous racing driver dynasties (the Pettys and Earnhardts are both from the area).
Another great thing about living in Charlotte is its outdoor lifestyle. It’s not too far to the beach and has a few really nice lakes where you can enjoy time on the water with friends. Charlotte is known for having a few of the best breweries in North Carolina, so you’ll always have somewhere to grab a pint with your buddies. From patios with skyline views to quaint taprooms, there’s something for every beer lover here.