Chris Van Hollen: “this week, May 15-21, 2023, marks U.N. Global Road Safety Week, with a focus this year on sustainable transport. As…”

“this week, May 15-21, 2023, marks U.N. Global Road Safety Week, with a focus this year on sustainable transport. As governments look to tackle the issues of climate change, some of the answers lie in making it easier for people to walk, cycle, and use public transport as a way to navigate our cities, but in order to do that, we need to prioritize making these options safer. I recognize the tremendous contributions of our partner organizations in this global effort, including the Association for Safe International Road Travel ASIRT. More than 1 million people die from road crashes every year, and tens of millions are seriously injured. Road traffic crashes are leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 15 and 29 and the eighth among all people worldwide. It is time to draw attention to the need for improved legislation, awareness, infrastructure, and technology to save more families from the tragedy of losing a loved one. On this seventh anniversary of U.N. Global Road Safety Week, it is critical to recommit to the goals of raising awareness about road safety and the importance of taking steps to end these preventable deaths. The World Health Organization, in collaboration with partners including governments, NGOs, businesses, and individuals, organizes periodic U.N. Global Safety Weeks. It was initiated in 2007 and, as of 2019, has become an annual event. In September 2020, the U.N.…”