On Sunday, November 16, 2025, the world will once again observe the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR). It is a day of profound significance, where we pause to honour the millions of lives lost and permanently altered by road crashes, acknowledging the immense trauma carried by victims, families, and emergency services globally.

Following last year’s focus on the indelible memory of ‘That Day’ when collisions forever changed lives, the theme for WDoR 2025 shifts our focus to the future we are losing: “Lost talents.”

This powerful theme spotlights a chilling statistic: road traffic injury remains the leading cause of death for children and young people worldwide. When a young life is tragically cut short, the world loses more than an individual—it loses their potential, their ideas, their future impact on society, their “lost talents.” These are the architects, scientists, artists, teachers, and leaders who will never contribute their unique gifts to the world. Their absence is a global crisis and a devastating economic drain.

Download the WDoR25 materials here

From Remembrance to Action: Protecting the Future

At iRAP, we join partners across the globe to heed the call to REMEMBER. SUPPORT. ACT.

While we stand in solidarity with the families who bear the scars of road trauma, our primary commitment—our ACTion—is the evidence-based solutions required to prevent these losses. The loss of young life to road trauma is not an accident; it is predictable and preventable.

We know the solution exists: Safer Roads Save Lives.

The loss of “talents” is most keenly felt by vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists—who disproportionately represent the victims of high-risk roads. This is where iRAP’s Star Rating Methodology becomes an essential tool in recovering those lost futures.

How We Stop the Loss of Potential

To protect children and young people, we must redesign the roads they use every day. iRAP is empowering governments and road authorities to meet the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 by focusing investment on life-saving road infrastructure.

• Understand the scale of lost potential: As we grapple with the sadness of one life cut short and the lost talents of that person, understand the scale of how often that happens in your country with our iRAP Safety Insights Explorer.

Access the Safety Insights Explorer here irap.org/safety-insights-explorer/  

• Targeting 3-star or Better: Our advocacy is that all new roads must be built to a 3-star or better standard for all road users, and existing high-risk roads must be urgently upgraded. This minimum safety standard is critical for shielding the most vulnerable.

See these inspirational country policy examples including 3-Star or Better targets to eliminate high-risk roads irap.org/policies-into-practice/

• Star Rating for Schools (SR4S): This programme directly addresses the “Lost talents” theme by focusing on the environments where children and youth are most exposed. By assessing the safety around schools, we can ensure safer pedestrian crossings, footpaths, and reduced speeds, making the journey to education safe.

Find out more about the Star Rating for Schools programme of tools here starratingforschools.org/

• Safer Roads Investment Plans: These plans use Star Rating data to create a powerful business case, proving that investing in safety delivers one of the highest possible returns—in both economic terms and, most importantly, in lives saved. Investing in safer infrastructure is the most direct way to ensure the talents of our youth are not tragically lost on the road.

Find out more on the Safer Road Investment Plans here irap.org/rap-tools/investment-planning/safer-roads-investment-plans/

iRAP tools support safety assessments for all road users including vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists, supporting active mobility, low carbon transport and climate resilience for people and planet. iRAP is supporting partners to implement the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 and drive forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Mobility.

Renew Your Commitment

On this World Day of Remembrance 2025, let the theme of “Lost talents” move you from empathy to action.

We urge all partners, governments, engineers, and financiers to prioritise road safety investment as a foundational step toward retaining the potential of every person, every life by improving road safety.  Every project and policy decision must protect the next generation.

Every child and young person deserves a future, and the world deserves their talents.

REMEMBER. The lives lost and the talents we mourn. SUPPORT. The families and emergency workers who bear the burden. ACT. Invest now to achieve 3-star or better roads for all and ensure that no more talents are lost to preventable road crashes.

Join the Movement

On this World Day of Remembrance, let us renew our commitment to road safety. By sharing stories and advocating for change, we can make a real difference.

To keep up to date with the event please visit:

• worlddayofremembrance.org
• Download the WDoR25 materials here

#WDoR2025 #LostTalents #RememberSupportAct

Our hearts go out to the families of road crash victims and first responders this World Day of Remembrance. We promise you – our daily work is done in remembrance of your loved ones lost, we support you and commit to act to do all we can, together with our partners, to create a world free of high-risk roads.