Today José Luis Castro, President and CEO of Vital Strategies, issued a statement on the upcoming World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Sunday, November 20th, 2016
“Since 1995, road crash victims and advocates have come together on the third Sunday of each year to commemorate those who have been killed and injured in road crashes. As a global health organization with a strong programmatic focus on international road safety, Vital Strategies joins these and countless other people who have been impacted by the widespread epidemic of road crashes.
“It is estimated that over 1.2 million people are killed annually around the world due to road crashes. Tragically, these are almost always preventable. Whether caused by speeding, drink driving, not wearing a motorcycle helmet, seatbelt or child restraint, road crashes needlessly destroy lives in every corner of the globe. And most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
“As we prepare to mark this somber occasion on Nov. 20, we must remember that we have the power right now to save lives on the roads. Improved law enforcement; strong mass media campaigns that remind motorists of the severe consequences accompanying risky road behavior; safe road designs that protect pedestrians; and manufacturing standards for new vehicles can all play a part in making this global tragedy one of the past, not of our future. The Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), of which Vital Strategies is a proud partner, aims to harness these and other solutions to address the challenge. We implore governments around the world to follow best practices championed by BIGRS and the WHO and put a greater priority on road safety. Doing so will help make their cities and countries safer places to live and work.”