SALT LAKE CITY — For many, Sunday was a solemn World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, especially those who gathered for a candlelight vigil at Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park.

“It takes a second, it only takes a few seconds to take your eyes off the road and you could change someone’s life forever,” said Micki Harris with Save Not Pave.

Salt Lake City is known for being walkable and bikeable.

“The wide streets and two percent grade of the Wasatch Front behind me make for a very bike-friendly city,” added Lucas Matelich of Unplugged Wellness.

Pedestrian advocacy groups like Bike Utah and Sweet Streets are calling on the city and state to increase safety.

“Maybe by narrowing the road a little bit, creating some roundabouts, for example, they slow down because it creates something where a driver really has to see and go around something and pay attention,” explained Sweet Streets board member Eric Kraan .

Harris has lost two family members to traffic violence.

“A lady was coming down trying to do her Christmas shopping. In a hurry, I didn’t see my little grandmother on the crosswalk,” she recalled. “I hit her and killed her, and instead of celebrating the holidays, we had a funeral.”

Harris also recalled losing her sister-in-law in an accident.

“Unfortunately, he was riding his bike and hit and killed. Not something any family should experience”

On World Road Traffic Day, people came together to defend and remember those lost, and to ask drivers to cut the distraction and slow down.

“Anyone who’s had anyone be affected by this, it’s devastating and the biggest part of it is that it’s not necessary,” Matelich said.

“With traffic, all of these deaths could have been prevented,” Harris added, “and if we continue to build dangerous roads, people will continue to lose lives and families will continue to grieve.”

Harris is now on a mission for better routes across the state.

“To keep fighting to get better infrastructure, to get better road design, to slow them down and to protect our lives.”