[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 177 (Friday, November 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN COMMEMORATION OF WORLD REMEMBRANCE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 18, 2011

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, as a co-chair of the Congressional 
Caucus on Global Road Safety, a caucus dedicated to supporting safe 
road travel worldwide, I rise to commemorate World Remembrance Day.
  World Remembrance Day was established to honor the memory of those 
who have been injured or killed in traffic crashes around the world. 
The day was set aside as a sign of the world's commitment to preventing 
road traffic deaths, to educating drivers and pedestrians about the 
hazards of road travel and to improving the safety of our roads.
  Road crashes are the leading cause of death globally for people 
between the ages of 5 and 29 years old. According to the 2009 Global 
Status Report on Road Safety, nearly 1,300,000 people globally die in 
road crashes each year. Unless action is taken, it is predicted that 
road traffic injuries could double by 2030, killing an estimated 
2,400,000 people per year.
  The hazards of road travel are a persistent problem regardless of a 
country's wealth. According to a report by the Governors Highway Safety 
Association, a body representing the safety departments from around the 
U.S., the overall number of pedestrian fatalities in this country is 
increasing.
  Statistics such as these are the rallying call of a growing number of 
public safety groups like the Association for Safe International Road 
Travel. Due to ASIRT's determined advocacy, there is now an increased 
emphasis being placed by American officials on providing our citizens 
with the tools they need to travel safely while abroad. ASIRT's 
encouragement influenced the Department of State's decision to post 
road safety information on its website and to offer safe driver 
training at its missions around the world.
  I am proud of my association with ASIRT. Its commitment to raising 
awareness about the hazards of road travel is helping to make the world 
a safer place. On this World Remembrance Day, may we all take a moment 
to reflect on the importance of road safety.

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