The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission is looking for volunteers to paint flags, honoring the 94 people killed in local traffic crashes since 2020.
The Haverhill-based Commission began collecting information last year for MV Vision Zero, a regional safety action plan. When this year’s global World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims took place Sunday, Nov. 17, the agency noted, 12 more people had been killed in crashes on Merrimack Valley roads.
“The intention is to bring the human factor of transportation violence to public conscience and the actions and strategies towards vision zero to the forefront of planning and policymaking,” the Commission said on its website. It is asking for volunteers to paint a message about transportation safety on large canvas flags and will provide the materials.
Officials note many communities organize memorials to honor crash victims, such as laying out a pair of sneakers in a public space for every person killed or placing white bikes or cardboard silhouettes at places where there have been fatal crashes. Locally, the regional agency chose its memorial based on the Merrimack Valley’s textile industry history.
Canvas flags, 20 by 36-inches, each representing a person killed in a crash since 2020, were recently arranged for a week as a uniting material at the entrance to the Methuen Rail Trail. There are still 46 flags left to paint to complete the memorial. Flags will be added to the line which will then be hung in public spaces around the Merrimack Valley Region.
Those interested in painting flags are asked to email Vision Zero Project Manager Elizabeth Maldari Elizabeth at [email protected].