Mississauga will join communities around the world this Sunday, November 15, in recognizing World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, honouring people killed or injured in traffic collisions and the families, friends, emergency responders and community members affected by those tragedies.
According to a City of Mississauga news release, the annual observance is a chance to reflect on road safety and acknowledge that the impact of collisions reaches far beyond those directly involved.
The scale of the problem is global. The World Health Organization estimates roughly 1.16 million people die each year in traffic collisions, and road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults between the ages of five and 29. More than half of road traffic deaths worldwide are among vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Record year for traffic calming
The city's news release states that one death on Mississauga roads is one too many, a principle it pursues through its Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate fatal and serious injury collisions.
Through 2026, the City delivered approximately 40 traffic calming projects to reduce speeding and aggressive driving on local roads — its largest traffic calming program to date. About 30 of those were small-scale school zone safety improvements funded through the Government of Ontario's Road Safety Initiatives Fund.
Mississauga also installed 18 new pedestrian crossovers this year to give residents safe places to cross, and added three new midblock pedestrian signals to help pedestrians and other vulnerable road users cross more safely.
Under the City's Slow Streets and seasonal speed mitigation programs, more than 600 traffic bollards were placed on 313 roadways in 2026 to encourage lower vehicle speeds in neighbourhoods and remind drivers to watch for pedestrians and cyclists.
Focus on school zones
Following provincial direction to remove Automatic Speed Enforcement, the City undertook safety improvements in school zones, according to the news release. Physical traffic calming measures were installed this year at select locations with identified speeding concerns, with additional enhancements — signs, lights and pavement markings — planned for all school zones in 2027.
The City also continued its School Walking Routes Program, which includes safety reviews, wayfinding signs, and pedestrian and cycling safety education for elementary and middle school students. The program encourages families to choose sustainable travel options such as walking and cycling.
Crossing guards continue to help elementary students cross roads safely at more than 160 locations across Mississauga.
The City describes these efforts as part of a road safety strategy combining engineering, education and enforcement, all aimed at preventing serious and fatal collisions.
Residents are encouraged to take a moment Sunday to remember those who have lost their lives or been seriously injured on the roads. More information on the City's road safety initiatives is available at mississauga.ca/roadsafety and mississauga.ca/visionzero.
