[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 169 (Tuesday, November 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1636-E1637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WORLD DAY OF ROAD SAFETY REMEMBRANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 17, 2015

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the 20th 
Anniversary of the World Day of Road Safety Remembrance.
  Despite greater awareness of the dangers associated with traveling on 
the world's roads today and improvements in road safety, more than a 
million people die each year as a result of road crashes. These crashes 
remain the single greatest cause of death for healthy Americans abroad. 
In the U.S., more than 30,000 die in crashes, while more than 2 million 
are injured annually.
  The good news is that the number of road deaths is stabilizing even 
though the number of motor vehicles worldwide has increased. According 
to the World Health Organization, in the last three years, 79 countries 
have seen a decrease in the absolute number of traffic fatalities.
  The bad news is that road users around the world are unequally 
protected. The risk of dying in a road traffic crash still depends, in 
great part, on where people live and how they move around. A big gap 
still separates high income countries from low and middle income ones 
where 90% of road traffic deaths occur in spite of having just 54% of 
the world's vehicles. Europe has the lowest death rates per capita. 
Africa has the highest.
  Though road safety strategies are saving lives, the pace of change is 
too slow. More countries are acting on road safety, but further action 
is required. In its recent report ``Improving Global Road Safety,'' WHO 
has called for all new roads to be constructed to at least a 3 Star 
safety standard, using the International Road Assessment Program 
methodology. Initiatives will be presented this week among government 
officials, NGOs and international organizations during the 2nd Global 
Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Brasilia, which coincides with 
the 20th anniversary of observing the World Day of Remembrance. Among 
the groups in attendance will be the Association for Safe International 
Road Travel. Since its founding, ASIRT has been a leading and powerful 
advocate in support of global road safety.
  On this World Day of Remembrance, we are reminded of how much 
progress has been made regarding road safety and how far we still need 
to go. I encourage my colleagues and the public to reflect on the 
importance of the task that lies ahead and to commit themselves to the 
work of preventing the needless deaths caused by road crashes.

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