TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — On Sunday, a group of Pinellas County residents and organizations came together to raise awareness about traffic safety in honor of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

What You Need To Know

  • Sunday is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

  • A group of Pinellas County residents held an event on Treasure Island to honor victims of traffic crashes

  • Participants also called for improved road safety measures

So far this year, close to 100 pedestrians and cyclists have been seriously injured in Pinellas County and 40 have died, according to preliminary data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Julie Henning organized the event. The cause is personal for Henning, who was hit by a garbage truck while riding her bike on Gulf Boulevard in May of 2020. She had 14 broken bones and a traumatic brain injury – and said she's lucky to be alive.

“I’m still recovering," Henning said. "I’m recovering physically, mentally, emotionally. It’s had a huge impact on my life and I really am just so grateful to be here.”

Participants honored victims of traffic crashes and their families by making remembrance signs and walking along Gulf Boulevard. Speakers also shared their personal connection to the cause and solutions to make roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

For Henning, Lisa Lake knows first-hand how dangerous the roads can be. Back in 2015, Lake was riding her bike next to another cyclist who veered into her, pushing her into a car. 

“I kind of thought fast and threw myself on top of that car," she said. "But then that car was kind of surprised to find a bike and rider on top of them and slammed the brakes on and I flew into the intersection.”

While Lake has physically recovered from the crash, it still affects her to this day.

“It makes me very anxious to get on a bike even now," she said. "Drivers are even more not in control, distracted. But so are cyclists. They have their phones on, they have earplugs in, they’re catching calls for work on their way to work.”

Lake felt it was important to stand in solidarity with other people who have been impacted by road violence.

“Keep going," she said. "Get back on that bike. Talk to people. Keep talking about it because I think that’s the thing that dissipates the anxiety on the road, dissipates the anger.”

Participants shared a simple message.

“We’ve got to slow down as drivers and we have to reduce our distractions," Henning said. "What that means is don’t pick up your cell phone. Don’t be texting, don’t be online while you’re driving. These distractions and speed are deadly.”

Advocates at Sunday's event also want to push for improved safety measures on the road, as well as a reformed legal response to crashes.