Loved ones around the world who have had their lives tragically taken through road deaths were remembered yesterday and Bermuda was no different, as the Island gathered at the New Berkeley Institute for the National Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

Remembering Our Loved Ones (R.O.L.O.) hosted the event, which featured a candlelit vigil, the roll call of names of road fatalities over the past 20 years, guest speakers and entertainment.

The touching ceremony left many in tears as the audience consisted of many Islanders who still mourn the death of their loved ones lost.

P.C. Shantia Furbert gave a very emotional speech as she talked about her experience as a police officer and being first on the scene of many of the road fatalities.

In particular, she mentioned the difficult time she had dealing with the scene of the third fatality of the year, American tourist, Martha Susan Hoopes.

Ms. Furbert said that after the accident she had trouble sleeping for two weeks and informed how Police officers and other emergency officials are also affected by the tragedies.

"People see Police as just being hard on motorist that are dangerous on the roads but we are the ones that see the results of accidents," she said.

Other speakers included PLP candidate for Southampton West Central, Marc Bean, Road Safety Council David Minors, Bermuda Health Council Anthony Richardson and Police Spokesman Dwayne Caines.

The event also included entertainment by Wendell 'Shine' Hayward and Bermuda Idol, Rickeesha Binns.

Family members wore t-shirts and displayed pictures of their lost loved ones in remembrance.

R.O.L.O. is a charity founded last year by the relatives of road accident victims.

It aims to provide support and comfort to grieving families and friends, with a counselling service at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and practical assistance.

A spokesperson from the organisation that lost her daughter said: "Every time someone dies on the road we all relive the time when our loved ones were taken.

"We reach out to them and try to be a support as we know the extra support helps in the healing process."

In 1993, World Remembrance Day was started by a group called Road Peace and later observed and promoted worldwide by several governmental organisations.

It was endorsed as Global day by the United Nations to be observed on the third Sunday in November as World Day of Remembrance.

Around the world many events are held to remember the victims, their family members, fire service personnel, Emergency Medical Technicians, Medical Practitioners, Police and the public who have helped in any way.

This year has seen a marked rise in the number of road accident fatalities.

The death of Tennison Fernando on September 29 marked the 13th death in the first nine months of the year, compared to 11 deaths for 2007.

The R.O.L.O. spokespersons added: "We need to become a road safety conscious Island and community.

"Starting today, let us all become ambassador of road safety so that families do not have to suffer what each of us in the room has gone through."

She also encouraged any member of the public who sees someone driving/riding in a dangerous manner to call Police and report them.

If you need to contact a ROLO representative, telephone 336-ROLO or email r.o.l.o@bermuda.com.