They could still be here—the 1,412 human beings killed last year on North Carolina roads. On the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, a pair of shoes, still, empty, stand for each one. To honor them, and to expose the dire cost of unsafe driving, NC Vision Zero will host the annual memorial display at the North Carolina State Capitol Building on November 18, 2018 from 11am – 5pm.

A press event at 3pm will feature remarks from Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program Director Mark Ezzell, and Tammy Garlock, who lost her son to distracted driving.

For, each one of those 1,412 human beings was loved–and deserved better. Some passers-by will offer a paper flower, remembering someone they loved in particular.

See more images from past exhibits here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/141696312@N06/albums/72157663096146798

Help make people aware of this serious public health issue by donating old shoes for future exhibits.

If your organization would like to partner with NC Vision Zero and host a shoe donation box, please contact us at ncvisionzero@ncsu.edu.

What will happen with the shoes after the World Day of Remembrance exhibit?

The shoes will be used for many years, travel all over North Carolina, and appear at various traffic safety events. For example, we will use a portion of them for our upcoming Visionaries teen driver program–to represent the number of teen driver fatalities.

If there is ever a day when we decide to stop using the shoes, we will donate the shoes that are still wearable.

For more information, contact ncvisionzero@ncsu.edu.