Various preventive activities under the motto "For Remembrance and Caution" will be organised this weekend to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. On Saturday, 14 November 2009, at 5 pm we will express our solidarity with the victims of road traffic accidents and their families by lighting candles for them in numerous places across Slovenia.

You are kindly invited to join us and light a candle yourself in order to support the global movement for better road traffic safety.

This activity is organised and co-ordinated by the Safe Journey Institute (Zavod varna pot), which invited many other institutions to participate, including the Police. The Minister of the Interior, Ms Katarina Kresal, and the Director of the Uniformed Police Directorate, Mr Danijel Žitko, will light candles in Prešeren Square in Ljubljana on Saturday, 14 November, at 5 pm.  Mr Janko Goršek, Director General of the Police, will light a candle "For Remembrance and Caution" in the school yard of the Secondary School for Services and Logistics in Celje, Ljubljanska 17, on Sunday, 15 November, at 4 pm.

Throughout the night the burning candles around the world will stand for solidarity and reflection on the loss of a dear family member, friend or acquaintance, and above all the candles will call for more safety on roads.

In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed the third Sunday in November the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. On this day we remember all those killed and injured in road traffic accidents together with their families, friends, colleagues, and all who are engaged in eliminating the consequences of road traffic accidents.

Experts estimate that around 1.26 million people die in road traffic accidents around the world every year, which means at least 3,450 fatalities a day.  The number of injuries has also been increasing from year to year. According to WHO, around 50 million persons are injured in road traffic accidents every year and five million disabled for life.