A recent rollover crash in the city of Marquette is pictured. Although this crash wasn’t fatal, the number of fatal crashes in the U.S. is rising. Officials hope the World Day of Rememberance for Traffic Victims will bring more attention to circumstances that lead to traffic crashes. (Journal file photo)

By RANDY CROUCH

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — This Sunday marks World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

The yearly day of remembrance for those lost to traffic crashes coincides with the Michigan Toward Zero Deaths Campaign. The Michigan Department of Transportation campaign is the adoption of a nationwide program which aims to bring the total number of traffic deaths to zero. The initiative promotes enhancing driver education, emergency response, law enforcement and several other policies.

“We make sure our troopers have all the tools and time to serve the motoring public to ensure everyone is driving in a safe manner,” said Lt. Mark Giannunzio of the Michigan State Police. “This includes an emphasis on patrolling in areas that are high in traffic crash occurrences.”

The MSP data says that more than 900 people have been killed on Michigan roads so far in 2023, with 12 being killed within the past week and more than 100 injured in that time period, bringing the total of traffic crash related injuries up to over 5,000.

“We encourage our troopers to take appropriate enforcement action to lessen the chances for crashes,” Giannunzio said. “This may include issuing a citation or a verbal warning for driving behavior that is known to cause crashes, i.e. speed, careless driving, seatbelt usage, and OWI (operating while intoxicated) activity. During our safe driving campaign, we use overtime funds to have additional patrol units out in the area to perform traffic enforcement duties.”

This year’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims comes at a time where the United States experienced the highest number of road deaths in 16 years and the highest deaths amongst people who were walking in 40 years. The day is used to bring attention, and bring a sense of scale, to the large scale of the deaths from traffic accidents.

The 2023 WDoR’s theme is “Safe Streets for People” and emphasizes the role that government and business leaders have to invest in policies that encourage safety for motorists and pedestrians.

More information about the Toward Zero Deaths program can be found online at https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/travel/safety/efforts/tzd. WDoR information can be found at https://worlddayofremembrance.org

Randy Crouch can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 542. His email address is rcrouch@miningjournal.net.