The day is to remember those who have died in traffic, to think about the responsibility of each person in traffic, but not least to thank the first responders who provide help and rescue. This time, special attention is paid to sleep and tiredness behind the wheel.
World Day of Remembrance 2025
The United Nations has dedicated the third Sunday of November to the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
This year, a memorial service will be held at 14:00, and the teams of the National Disaster Response Service and other emergency responders will be organizing symbolic ceremonies around the country. All are welcome.
This year’s commemoration day is Sunday 16 November.
In addition to being a day of remembrance, it has become customary in Iceland to dedicate the day to education and prevention focused on a specific risk factor that has contributed to fatal accidents. This year, the focus is on one of the most important safety features in vehicles — the seat belt. Seat belts reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by up to 45%. Many fatal and serious accidents could have been prevented if seat belts had been used.
World Day of Remembrance is supported by the Icelandic Transportation Authority, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Icelandic National Safety Board, the National Disaster Response Association, Landsbjörg, the Emergency Response Team, the Police and the Icelandic Road Administration.
World Day of Remembrance Program
13:45 – The Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter lands. 13:45–14:00 – Participants gather by the helicopter pad and arrange vehicles and people. Photo session – First responders together with the President in front of the vehicles and the Coast Guard helicopter. 14:00 – The memorial ceremony begins – Ingilín Kristmannsdóttir, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure. 14:05 – Address by the President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir. 14:10 – The President of Iceland leads one minute of silence. 14:11 – Address by the Minister of Infrastructure, Eyjólfur Ármannsson. 14:16 – The keynote speaker, police officer Hilmar Sigurjónsson, shares his personal experience. 14:22 – The Queer Choir performs the song I Think of Angels. 14:26 – Formal conclusion of the ceremony – Ingilín Kristmannsdóttir, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure. 14:28 – Coffee, cocoa, and refreshments are served. 14:30 – The President of Iceland, together with the Directors of the Icelandic Transport Authority and the Icelandic Road Administration, presents refreshments to the emergency department staff as a token of gratitude.
Events outside of Reykjavík
The Rescue Team Strákar and the Accident Prevention Division Vörn are organizing the event.
LOCATION: The parking lot by Kjörbúðin in Siglufjörður, below the church steps. TIME: 5:00 PM, Sunday, November 16. CONTACT: Katrín Freysdóttir / katafreys@gmail.com PROGRAM: A memorial service will be held in Siglufjörður, as in previous years. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM and will take place in cooperation with local emergency response teams in Siglufjörður. There will be a speech and singing, and guests will be offered something warm to drink along with cookies. Everyone is welcome.
The Rescue Team Súlur and the Akureyri Accident Prevention Division are organizing the event.
LOCATION: At the Súlur rescue team’s headquarters in Akureyri, Hjalteyrargata 12. TIME: 2:00 PM, Sunday, November 16. CONTACT: Ágústa Ýr Sveinsdóttir / agustayrs@gmail.com PROGRAM: Candles will be lit, and the Mayor of Akureyri will deliver an address. A speaker will share their personal experience. Finally, a pastor will give a reflection and lead one minute of silence in memory of traffic accident victims. Afterwards, various emergency response representatives will gather for a group photo. Coffee, cocoa, and pastries will be served, and everyone is welcome.
The Iðunn Accident Prevention Division and the Ísafjörður Rescue Association are organizing the event.
LOCATION: Guðmundarbúð, Ísafjörður. TIME: 3:00 PM, Sunday, November 16. CONTACT: Gunnvör Rósa Marvinsdóttir / gunnvorrosa@gmail.com PROGRAM: Reverend Magnús is expected to lead a reflection and a prayer. Following that, a talk will be given about seat belts — their strength and importance — as the day is dedicated to raising awareness of their use. After the program, coffee and refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome.
The Kjölur Rescue Team and the Kjalarnes Fire Department are jointly organizing this event, as in previous years.
LOCATION: The weighing area at Blikdal on Vesturlandsvegur, followed by coffee at Þórnýjarbúð, Norðurgrund 1, Kjalarnes. TIME: 2:00 PM, Sunday, November 16. CONTACT: Gunnvör Rósa Marvinsdóttir / gunnvorrosa@gmail.com PROGRAM: Emergency vehicles and personnel will be assembled at the weighing area. A gathering and moment of silence will take place there in remembrance of those who have lost their lives in traffic accidents. Afterwards, coffee and refreshments will be served nearby at Þórnýjarbúð, Norðurgrund 1, Kjalarnes. Everyone is welcome.
The Search and Rescue Team Eining is organizing the event. LOCATION: Nesbúð, Selnes 8, Breiðdalsvík TIME: 3:00 PM, Sunday, November 16 CONTACT: Hrefna I. Melsteð / hrefnamelsted@gmail.com / 8496096 PROGRAM: The event will begin with the local emergency response teams in Breiðdalsvík coming together and driving around the town. The response vehicles will then be parked in front of Nesbúð. There will be a moment of silence, followed by coffee, cocoa, and cookies being served.
The rescue teams Brák, Heiðar, and Ok are organizing the ceremony.
LOCATION: At the area by the Baula service station by the highway. TIME: Gathering at Baula at 18:00 (6:00 p.m.) and departing from there at 18:30 (6:30 p.m.). CONTACT: Vigfús Ægir Vigfússon / 868 1651 / vigfusvigfus@gmail.com PROGRAM: Everyone is welcome. Emergency responders in Borgarbyggð will meet in the parking area at Baula and then drive together to Stafholtskirkja Church, where the priest will receive the group. A short reflection (devotional) will be held. It is expected that more emergency response units will take part, including the Borgarbyggð Fire Department, the West Iceland Police, and representatives from the West Iceland Health Institute (HVE). Everyone is welcome.
The Dalvík Rescue Team and Accident Prevention Department are organizing a ceremony. LOCATION: Dalvík Church. TIME: 20:00 (8:00 p.m.) CONTACT: María Björk Stefánsdóttir / mariabstef@gmail.com PROGRAM: People will gather in Dalvík Church, where a safety service (accident prevention mass) will be held. Representatives from various emergency response units will be present, and the Dalvík Accident Prevention Department will offer waffles and coffee after the service. Everyone is welcome.
The Hyrna Accident Prevention Department and the Tindur Rescue Team in Ólafsfjörður are organizing a ceremony in memory of traffic accident victims.
LOCATION: Ólafsfjörður Cemetery. TIME: 17:45 (5:45 p.m.) CONTACT: Sigríður Guðmundsdóttir / 867 1455 PROGRAM: Participants will gather in the cemetery in Ólafsfjörður. There will be speeches and poems, followed by a minute of silence to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in traffic accidents. Afterward, candles will be lit, and hot cocoa will be served. Everyone is welcome.
Emergency responders in Múlaþing are organizing a symbolic event in memory of traffic accident victims.
LOCATION: Outside Egilsstaðir Church. TIME: Sunday, November 16 at 15:00 (3:00 p.m.) CONTACT: Heiða Ingimarsdóttir PROGRAM: Dagmar Ýr Stefánsdóttir, Mayor of Múlaþing, will deliver an address. A one-minute silence will be held in memory of the victims of traffic accidents. Everyone is welcome! After the event, attendees will have the opportunity to view emergency response vehicles.
The Brimrún Rescue Team and the Hafrún Disaster Prevention Department are handling the ceremony.
VENUE: The Rescue Team Building at Strandgata 11 in Eskifjörður.
TIME: At 1:30 PM, the drive will begin, followed by a memorial coffee from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM on Sunday, November 16.
AGENDA: At 1:30 PM, responders will drive from the Rescue Team Building through the town. The drive will then end at the Rescue Team Building, where candles will be lit in memory of those who have died in traffic accidents. At 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, there will be a memorial coffee at the Rescue Team Building.
Tintron Rescue Service is holding a ceremony at the Borg Community Center.
VENUE: Borg Community Center in Grímsnes- og Grafningshrep TIME: 2:00 PM, Sunday, November 16th. CONTACT: Jakob Guðnason / jakob@tintron.is AGENDA: A memorial service will be held with the participation of emergency responders in the area. All are welcome.
Eykyndill is holding a memorial mass and a moment of remembrance.
VENUE: Landakirkja and the cemetery gate.
TIME: 1:00 PM in Landakirkja and 8:00 PM at the cemetery gate, Sunday, November 16.
CONTACT: Eykyndill / mus@simnet.is.
AGENDA: A memorial mass will be held at 1:00 PM in Landakirkja. A moment of remembrance will also be held at the cemetery gate at 8:00 PM where candles will be lit.
The Icelandic radio stations will be joined in the playback of When I think of angels.
The song I Think of Angels has become a landmark song of World Day of Remembrance in Iceland. It is written by KK (Kristján Kristjánsson) and sung by his sister Ellen. Kristján wrote the song in memory of their sister who died in a traffic accident in the United States in 1992.
It is planned that all radio stations in the country with live broadcasts will join together to play the same song at 14:00 on World Day of Remembrance.
Why World Day of Remembrance?
Around 3,600 people die and hundreds of thousands are injured in traffic around the world every day. That's about 1.3 million a year.
Since the first fatal accident was registered in Iceland on 25 August 1915, a total of 1632 people have died in traffic (13. November 2025). More people are seriously injured, facing trauma, grief and rlasing sorrow as a result.
We hope that people will show appropriate compassion on this day and do their utmost to ensure their own safety and responsibility in traffic.
