[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18884]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          ON WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD TRAFFIC VICTIMS

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 2, 2010

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in solemn 
observance of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims and 
their Families, which was observed on Sunday, November 21, 2010. I 
offer my heartfelt condolences to all those who have lost loved ones to 
road crashes. This observance spans the globe, uniting every person 
regardless of age, class, gender, race, nationality, or geography, as 
road crashes can devastate any life at any time.
  Indeed, road crashes profoundly alter the lives of millions of 
people. The leading cause of death throughout the world for people ages 
5 to 29 is not disease or war but road crashes. A staggering 1.3 
million people are killed in road crashes every year, and another 20 to 
50 million are injured in traffic accidents. On average, over 1,000 
people under the age of 25 die every single day on the world's roads, 
and the annual monetary cost of motor vehicle crashes worldwide is 
currently estimated at $518 billion.
  These numbers are increasing dramatically and place particular strain 
on underdeveloped and developing nations, where crash rates are at 
their highest. In developing countries, road crashes have a dramatic 
impact on fragile economies, costing an estimated $100 billion and 
often exceeding the total amount received by these countries in 
development assistance. Furthermore, road crashes affect first 
responder services, health care services, and health insurance 
services, as many victims require extensive, and expensive, critical 
care, as well as follow-up care and rehabilitation.
  Road crashes are particularly devastating when examining the effect 
on young people. Globally, more than 40 percent of all road traffic 
deaths occur among individuals under 25 years old, and crashes are the 
leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 10-25 years 
old. Over the next decade, this is estimated to become the leading 
cause of death for children 5 and older worldwide. It is my fervent 
hope that our observance of the World Day of Remembrance will help to 
prevent the needless end of so many young lives in the future.
  Unlike other epidemics and tragedies which modern science has not yet 
found ways to eradicate, the cure for road crashes is within our grasp, 
and the United States has taken a critical, active role domestically 
and internationally to address this problem. In November 2009, the 
Moscow Declaration, signed by 150 countries, encouraged the 
establishment of a Decade of Action for Road Safety from 2011 to 2020, 
and laid the foundation for United Nations General Assembly Resolution 
64/255 adopted in March 2010. This U.N. resolution recognizes that the 
devastation caused by road crashes negatively impacts the social, 
economic, and health targets of the Millennium Development Goals. The 
United States now takes the lead in furthering the goals of this 
initiative and setting an example for the rest of the world by 
improving transportation management, infrastructure, vehicle safety, 
education, and post-crash care and rehabilitation here at home. It is 
of the utmost importance that we continue to support public policies 
designed to reduce key risk factors like speeding, drunk driving, 
distracted driving, and the failure of many Americans to use seat 
belts, child restraints, and other safety devices.
  The Decade of Action for Road Safety has not been declared to merely 
raise awareness, but also to take action. We all use roads, cars, 
buses, and bicycles every day. It is easy to take our safety for 
granted. But too many tragedies remind us that road fatalities and 
injuries have an enormous impact on our lives. This resolution 
expresses the House of Representatives' support for the Decade of 
Action and encourages the federal government to support efforts to 
reduce road fatalities, preventing needless deaths and injuries both 
here at home and around the world.
  Madam Speaker, as Americans travel the world more and more and as our 
global society grows ever more close-knit, the pressing importance of 
our observance of the World Day of Remembrance only grows as well.

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