In observance of the United Nations World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims, Safety Alliance For Everyone (SAFE), a society dedicated to road safety, organized an emotional and impactful event at the Chandigarh Press Club today. Supported by Visa Now Services, the event centered on this year’s theme, “That Day”, in reference to the tragic moment that changed the lives of traffic crash victims and their families forever.
Rupinder Singh, Chairman of SAFE, opened the event with a powerful message on the preventability of traffic crashes. He emphasized that “SPEEDING” is one of the most significant contributors to traffic crashes and urged attendees to pledge never to speed, for the safety of both themselves and their loved ones.
The event provided a poignant platform for several family members of victims to share their personal stories of loss and remembrance: Rohit Rana, brother of Bindu Rana, recounted how “That Day” began as any ordinary day, with Bindu checking in with family early in the morning as usual before leaving for her workplace. However, she never arrived at her workplace as she had a crash. Visa Now Services, and her family and colleagues were left heartbroken upon realizing it was their last conversation with her.
Baldev Singh Maur shared his grief as a father who lost his young son, Gurpreet Singh Maur, only two months after his marriage. Singh expressed the enduring pain of his loss, which he will carry for the rest of his life.
Pritpal Singh, who lost his wife Gurwinder Kaur last year, spoke about the daily emptiness he and his son, Karan Pal, feel. He described how his late wife had looked forward to Karan’s wedding, and how they both felt her absence deeply on that day.
Inderpreet Kaur shared a voice message recounting a horrific crash that happened in seconds while she, her husband Ravinder, and her mother-in-law were returning from a pilgrimage to the Golden Temple. She described the haunting silence after the crash, wishing she could hold her husband’s hand or hear her mother-in-law’s voice one last time.
Manpreet Dhanoa recounted the tragic loss of his brother, who was hit by an unauthorized driver speeding on the wrong side of the road after a family wedding celebration.
SAFE Executive Member, Rakesh Sharma while addressing urged the media to use the term “crash” instead of “accident,” emphasizing that such incidents are not accidental but causative and preventable. At the event, family members displayed the personal belongings of their loved ones — phones, shoes, and clothes — as a stark reminder of lives tragically cut short.
This event served as a solemn call to action, reminding everyone of the importance of road safety, empathy, and responsibility in preventing further tragedies on our roads.
