[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 ______ 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. ____________________