Bangkok: The Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation, in collaboration with the Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), the public and private sectors’ accident reduction campaign network, organized the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (World Victims Day) in front of the United Nations Office in Thailand, Ratchadamnoen Road, Bangkok.

According to Thai News Agency, the event saw participation from several key figures from domestic and international organizations, including Mr. Surachai Liangboonlertchai, Advisor to the Committee considering the study of road accident prevention and reduction approaches for road safety, Parliament, and Dr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok. Other notable attendees included HE. Mr. Jean-Claude Poimbœuf, French Ambassador to Thailand, Mr. Nikorn Chamnong, Chairman of the Pracha Plodprao Foundation, and Mr. Ishtiaque Ahmed, Economic Affairs Officer, Sustainable Transport Section, Transport Division, UNESCAP. Representatives from the World Health Organization in Tha
iland, the British Embassy, Rotary Thailand, and several victims’ families also attended the event.

Dr. Taejing Siripanich, Secretary-General of the Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation, emphasized that human-caused disasters, particularly traffic accidents, have eclipsed natural disasters as a leading cause of loss. Traffic accidents claim over 1.5 million lives globally each year, with Thailand alone witnessing an average of 17,000 such deaths annually.

The United Nations has designated the third Sunday of November as the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims to honor those who have died in traffic accidents. In Thailand, the Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation, supported by the UNESCAP office, has been organizing this commemoration since 2006. The event aims to unite Thais in remembering the victims and promoting road safety, following a Cabinet resolution in 2013 that recognized this day as a national observance.