Councilors want Nov. 15 marked as a day of remembrance for traffic victims. Boston had 11 pedestrian deaths last year

City Councilors Sharon Durkan and Enrique Pepén are asking the council to recognize Sunday, Nov. 15, as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in Boston. Their resolution is on the agenda for Wednesday, Nov. 4 (docket 2110; text). It is marked each year on the third Sunday of November.

A resolution like this does not change any law or budget. What makes it notable are the numbers it puts in the council's record, and its call on the State House for two measures that Boston cannot adopt on its own.

What the resolution says

• Deaths. Massachusetts recorded 354 traffic deaths in 2025, 21% of them pedestrians. Eleven pedestrians were killed in Boston.
• Crashes. The city's Vision Zero data showed nearly 600 crashes involving pedestrians that needed an EMS response, and more than 200 involving cyclists.
• This year. As of October, 75 pedestrians had been killed on Massachusetts roads.
• The ask. It urges the Legislature to pass bills "authorizing speed cameras and increasing accountability for truck safety features."
• Ride for Your Life. It recognizes the Oct. 25 Boston ride and rally for safer streets, which our Oct. 26 story covered.

Speed cameras and the truck provisions were included in the Senate's version of an economic development bill that had stalled in the House, Streetsblog Massachusetts reported last month.

What our records add

The council has already voted on both state asks. On July 22, the council adopted Pepén's resolution recommitting the city to Vision Zero 2030 (docket 1424) and City Councilor Brian Worrell's resolution backing S.2344 and H.3754, the bills that would allow road safety cameras (docket 1426). Both passed 11-0, with two councilors absent, and each had 11 sponsors (meeting).

Thursday's hearing. The Planning, Development and Transportation Committee, which Durkan chairs, holds a hearing Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. on two orders from City Councilor Benjamin Weber: one on the city's bike network plan (docket 1418) and one on heavy truck safety (docket 1542). Both followed the July death of a city transportation planner who was struck by a truck while biking near Roxbury Crossing (our preview; notice).

Items still waiting, according to our records:

• City Councilor Erin Murphy's order on traffic safety at Tremont and Parker streets, where the planner was killed, in committee since Sept. 23 without a hearing (docket 1797).
• Pepén's ordinance requiring annual reports on street projects, in the Government Operations Committee since July 22 (docket 1415).
• Durkan's order on enforcement against blocked bike lanes and crosswalks, heard Oct. 22 and still in committee (docket 1543).

What the city has reported. At an April 22 committee hearing, a city transportation official said the Wu administration had built 18 miles of bike lanes and more than 1,400 speed humps, and planned about 2.5 more miles of lanes this year (watch at 19:29).

What's next

• Wednesday, Nov. 4, noon: The council takes up the resolution. Resolutions are often adopted the same day unless a councilor objects (agenda).
• Thursday, Nov. 5, 2 p.m.: The bike network and truck safety hearing in the Iannella Chamber. The public can testify.
• Sunday, Nov. 15: World Day of Remembrance.