North Dakota to Honor Traffic Crash Victims on Nov. 13

Bismarck to host memorial for North Dakota traffic crash victims

North Dakotans will gather at the State Capitol in Bismarck on Friday, Nov. 13, to honor those lost in fatal traffic crashes.

The event serves as a local observance of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, according to a report from the Grand Forks Herald.

The ceremony is being organized by the North Dakota Department of Transportation Highway Safety Division and Vision Zero, a state initiative focused on reducing crash-related deaths. Held in Memorial Hall, the program aims to shift the focus from mere statistics to the individual lives impacted by road tragedies.

“This year’s program will place a special emphasis on remembering who traffic victims were and the lives they lived,” the DOT stated in a release, as reported by the Grand Forks Herald.

Families invited to share personal tributes

The event begins with an invitation for attendees to arrive at 11:30 a.m. to view memorial displays and connect with grieving families before the formal program starts at noon. Families and friends are encouraged to participate personally by bringing a photo, a pair of shoes, or another meaningful item to place in a temporary memorial during the ceremony.

To assist with the tribute, flowers will be provided by Concrete Daisiez. The program will also feature remarks from a victim’s family and representatives from the state DOT, followed by an invocation and a moment of silence for those killed on North Dakota roads.

NewsDakota.com reports that the Bailey Bernstein family will attend to share Bailey’s story and discuss how her legacy continues through the Bailey Bernstein Foundation. This personal storytelling is a central component of the day’s mission to humanize the consequences of traffic accidents.

A new element for this year’s observance is the introduction of Memory Cards. Families can use these cards to write down a specific memory or a meaningful detail about the person they are remembering.

These cards offer two options for families: they can take them home or entrust them to Vision Zero to be displayed at future World Day of Remembrance events, ensuring their loved ones remain represented even when family members cannot attend in person.

The broader impact of road safety initiatives

While the Bismarck event takes place on a Friday, the international observance of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims falls on Sunday, Nov. 15, according to NewsDakota.com. The global day recognizes the lasting trauma and community-wide impacts felt by those who have lost loved ones or suffered serious injuries in crashes.

The Bismarck program is free and open to the public. Organizers are encouraging crash survivors, those who have lost family members, and community members who wish to show support for affected families to attend the gathering at the State Capitol.

For more information regarding the observance, the public can visit the official Vision Zero website.

The next scheduled milestone for this observance is the international recognition on Sunday, Nov. 15.