In Commemoration of World Day of Remembrance

Floor Speech

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, as a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety, I rise today in commemoration of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

In 2005, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a Resolution that calls for a worldwide recognition of the third Sunday in November each year as the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Each year on this day we remember the victims of road crashes and the difficulties faced by their loved ones who must cope with the awful emotional and practical consequences of these tragedies.

Road crashes are a critical public health issue. According to the 2009 Global Status Report on Road Safety, road crashes contribute to approximately 1.3 million deaths around the world each year. By 2030, the number of fatalities is projected to increase exponentially, making road crashes the fifth leading cause of death in the world.
This year's theme for World Remembrance Day--``Now is the time to learn from the past''--focuses on the need for organizations and nations around the world to join in the discussion of prevention programs and methods. We must examine failed strategies and devise stronger and more effective road safety policies.

I am honored that ASIRT--the Association for Safe International Road Travel--is headquartered in my congressional district. ASIRT is a non-profit organization that emphasizes the importance of global road safety through education, advocacy, and road safety projects. Over the years, ASIRT has done extraordinary work to keep travelers safe on the world's roads. Its efforts have saved countless lives as it draws attention to this critical public health issue.

As we observe the 2012 World Day of Remembrance, I ask my colleagues to join me in a moment of reflection, remembering the lives affected by road crashes and the continued need to do all we can to make the world a safer place.

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