The families of people killed by motorists will honor their loved ones Sunday during World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
The event is held on the third Sunday of each November annually, in order to bring visibility to the issue of people killed and seriously injured on roads.
It is also intended to provide a way for communities to grieve the 1.35 million people killed around the world each year in traffic crashes and work toward change.
Locally, city leaders and members of Families for Safe Streets San Diego — a group of San Diego families who have lost loved ones to road traffic while they were walking or biking — will place 258 pairs of empty shoes at Alice Birney Joint Use Field in the University Heights area in order to represent the number of traffic fatalities recorded in the county in 2023.
The event’s participants will then share the stories of their loved ones and ask policymakers to increase their investments in safe streets.
Mayor Todd Gloria, City Councilman Stephen Whitburn, and San Diego Unified School District Board Member Richard Barrera will join members of the Families for Safe Streets in order to speak about what actions the city is taking to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe.
The group is asking for three specific actions:
— Improving dangerous roads around the city, including the “Fatal 15,” San Diego’s deadliest 15 intersections;
— Reducing speed limits in school zones; and
— Increasing safety along six “Critical Corridors,” high-trafficked areas along routes to schools considered the most dangerous to pedestrians in the city.
San Diego has made some improvements to dangerous areas, including adding protected bike lanes to Pershing Dr. around Balboa Park and along Convoy St. in Kearny Mesa.
Additionally, on Jan. 1, 2025, it will become illegal for motorists in California to park within 20 feet of most intersections as the result of a “daylighting” bill intended to prevent pedestrian injuries and deaths.
While this will eliminate thousands of parking spots across the city, proponents say that is a small price to pay to save lives.
Sunday’s event begins at 3:30 p.m. with a family-friendly walk and ride, followed by the vigil at 4:30 p.m.
City News Service contributed to this report.
