British activist Brigitte Chaudhry founded this observance in 1993 through the road-safety charity RoadPeace, before the UN General Assembly formally adopted it through resolution 60/5 in October 2005, inviting all nations to mark the day on the third Sunday of November each year — which falls on November 15 in 2026. The World Health Organization estimates road crashes kill more than 1.1 million people annually worldwide and injure millions more, making them a leading cause of death among young people. The day urges policymakers to improve road design, strengthen traffic safety laws, and provide support for survivors and victims' families. Cities around the world hold remembrance events, alongside safe-driving awareness campaigns and calls to support crash survivors emotionally and financially, often featuring real stories of families who lost loved ones on the road.