On the Road with ASIRT ______________ ____December 2023 | |
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A Season of Gratitude
Dear Friends,
In this season of gratitude, I would like to express my deep appreciation to ASIRT’s extraordinary Staff, Board of Directors, and Advisory Board for their wisdom, creativity, and guidance. It is their ongoing dedication that has enabled ASIRT to continue to fulfill and expand its ambitious agenda of saving precious lives on the world’s roads.
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ASIRT is also enormously grateful to our sponsors who are our steadfast and committed partners in road safety and who help us to realize our goals.
Finally, (and most important) we are extremely thankful to each and every one of you who continues to encourage, inspire, and sustain us as we strive to promote a culture of road safety.
May 2024 bring with it enormous strides in road safety as we each do our part to create a world where all travelers return safely home.
Warmly,
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Rochelle Sobel
Founder and President
ASIRT
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Stepping Out and Up for Road Safety at the ASIRT Gala
More than 130 attendees from the diplomatic community, government agencies, the auto industry, road safety organizations, academic institutions, and ASIRT supporters celebrated together at ASIRT’s annual Gala “Step Up for Road Safety” on November 15 in Washington, DC. Many embraced the theme by “stepping up” in their favorite, comfortable, and often high-fashion sneakers to applaud ASIRT’s accomplishments and leadership in road safety, honor five award recipients for their commitment to road safety and support of ASIRT, and recommit to the mission of making roads safe for all travelers.
Rochelle Sobel, ASIRT Founder and President, welcomed the participants and provided an overview of ASIRT activities and accomplishments during the past year. Ambassador Marc Grossman, who was instrumental in the launch of ASIRT and has been a steadfast advisor over the years, served as Master
of Ceremonies for the evening. Read more.
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Master of Ceremonies Ambassador Marc Grossman addresses attendees at the annual Gala. | |
ASIRT Board Member Andy Koblenz presents award to Dan Ryan of Mazda North American Operations. | |
Pulse International Meets to Discuss Road Safety for Students
Pulse International, an association and network for health, safety, and security professionals in higher education, invited ASIRT to present to its in-person and online meeting attendees on November 17, 2023, in Washington, DC. Dr. Nino Paichedze, Assistant Research Professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, opened the hour-long presentation with a public health perspective of the impact of road crashes. Her detailed and informative presentation provided context for the data, statistics, and state of road crashes for several countries where students travel.
Prior to the meeting, ASIRT polled participants to better understand how road safety fits into risk managers’ agendas. The poll is open for those still interested in responding. Read more.
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Update: ASIRT Road Safety Reviews (RSR)
Free sample reports for Brazil, Czech Republic and Uganda can be downloaded at asirt.org/resources. ASIRT newly published Road Safety Reviews (RSR) include Austria, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic / Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Uzbekistan.
Current subscribers may request access to reports or updates to reports for countries of interest.
Student travelers who attend schools that are ASIRT subscribers also are invited to submit road safety blogs for consideration for publication on the ASIRT website. Read recent blogs about Saudi Arabia and Taiwan and contact [email protected] for details.
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Legislative Update from Dan Langenkamp
Dan Langenkamp, a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department, works overtime to promote legal changes in the wake of his wife’s road death.
Ever since his wife Sarah‘s death in August 2022, Dan Langenkamp has been busy.
After organizing the Ride for Your Life, an advocacy bike ride where more than 2,000 people retraced his wife’s bicycling route the day she was crushed by a truck, Langenkamp has carved out time — usually late at night — to push for national and state legislation, serve as a board member with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, and travel across the nation to advocate in favor of safe streets. Learn more about Dan Langenkamp's efforts.
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The Edge
Welcome to The Edge, a new column that focuses on emerging road safety issues to create awareness, and where appropriate, the opportunity to advocate for and implement safe road practices.
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No Laughing Matter!
by Special Guest Columnist and ASIRT Advisory Board Member Richard Finch
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, N2O, Hippy Crack, or NOS, is a colorless, odorless, non-flammable gas that has various uses, including as an anesthetic in medical and dentistry procedures and in the food industry as a whipping agent. It is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream in seconds, but only lasts a few minutes, causing a feeling of euphoria. This tends to encourage users to repeat inhaling the gas and has implications for road safety. Read more.
ASIRT Advisory Board Member Richard Finch graduated from London University, UK. After serving in the Royal Air Force, he joined a major oil company and had assignments in the UK, The Netherlands, Venezuela, Nigeria, Sultanate of Oman, and Bangladesh.
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Winter Weather Driving Quiz
Are you prepared to drive this winter? How well do you know what to do on winter roads?
Click here to take ASIRT’s Winter Weather quiz and test your knowledge.
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For detailed information about driving in winter weather conditions, visit the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration web site. | |
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World Day of Remembrance
Nearly 4 million people have died on U.S. roadways alone over the last 125 years. 1.35 million die every year around the world in road traffic crashes. On World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, which took place on November 19th, the global road safety community memorialized those killed by traffic violence and renewed its commitment to ending these preventable tragedies.
Families and friends of road crash victims, road safety NGOs, and other community groups commemorated the day through local advocacy activities, rallies, candlelight ceremonies, and videos shared on social media. We are grateful for the continuing support of members of the U.S. Congress, including Representative Richard Hudson, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety and Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. Read Senator Van Hollen's statement.
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Road Safety in the News
Read about how vehicles with higher vertical front ends put pedestrians at risk.
Forbes, November 2023
Learn how 'Daylighting' Is the Cheap Street Fix That Can Save Lives
Bloomberg, November 2023
Fleet safety should be a core value, not just a corporate priority. Read more.
AutomotiveFleet.com, October 2023
Montgomery County, Maryland municipality is one of 25 cities across North America to receive funding for arts-driven pedestrian safety mural. See how colorful curb extensions keep pedestrians safer.
MoCo360, November 2023
Read about older driver safety concerns in the U.S. and abroad.
Forbes, November 2023
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ASIRT Thanks Its Generous Sponsors | |
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Answers to Winter Weather Driving Quiz referenced above::
1) (b) Steer in the direction you want to go
2) (c) It ensures visibility and prevents hazards to other drivers
3) ( b) Increase your following distance
4) (c) Use a shovel or other tools to clear snow from around the tires and under the car
5) (b) Lower than in the summer for better traction
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Support ASIRT's mission to improve road safety. Make a contribution today. | | | | |
