[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 163 (Friday, November 15, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD TRAFFIC VICTIMS

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                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 15, 2013

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of World Day of 
Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
  This Sunday around the world, millions will pause to remember those 
who have died or been injured in road crashes. Every year, the list of 
those injured and suffering as a result of road crashes grows. This 
tragedy is increased by the fact that many of these deaths and injuries 
could have been prevented. This is a growing global epidemic 
predominantly impacting young people. More than 40 percent of all road 
traffic deaths occur among individuals under 25 years old and road 
crashes are the second leading cause of death for young people aged 5-
25 years.
  Promoting global road safety requires a focus on education, advocacy 
and support for targeted road safety projects in low and middle income 
countries where the problem is more prevalent. That is why I have been 
a long supporter of the Association for Safe International Road Travel 
(ASIRT).
  ASIRT encourages governments in developing nations to reduce road 
traffic deaths and injuries through dialogue, research and advocacy. 
ASIRT encourages and promotes U.S. government involvement in road 
safety abroad by emphasizing the importance of sharing U.S. technical 
assistance and injury treatment expertise with other nations and 
international organizations. ASIRT also works closely with the 
Congressional Global Road Safety Caucus to raise awareness among 
members of Congress about this urgent problem and with U.S. embassies 
abroad to promote road safety initiatives in host countries.
  I want to congratulate ASIRT for being selected to participate in the 
new Bloomberg Global Road Safety Initiative. This initiative will 
devote $125 million over five years to fund road safety interventions 
in 10 target countries around the globe. ASIRT is the only non-
governmental organization among the Bloomberg partners on this project. 
ASIRT will work to strengthen NGO capacity in target countries through 
grassroots programs and is currently working on programs in Egypt, 
Kenya, and Turkey with plans of expanding to other countries.
  World Remembrance Day is a time for the public to think about the 
devastating loss and suffering that still occurs because of road 
crashes and reminds us of how much more we must still do to bring this 
suffering to an end.

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