Make Roads Safe visits Capitol Hill

Dr. Bella Dinh-Zarr, Rep. James Oberstar and Jessica Billings.

Representatives from Make Roads Safe recently visited Capitol Hill to raise awareness about global road safety and rally support from members of the U.S. Congress for the upcoming United Nations (UN) debate to make road safety an international priority. Each year, more than one million people are killed worldwide in traffic crashes, and millions more are injured. Traffic fatalities and injuries are a growing international public health issue, and the World Health Organization projects that by the year 2020, traffic crashes will become the third leading cause of death and disability in the world.

Jessica Billings, who served as a 2007 U.S. Youth Ambassador to the UN World Youth Assembly on Road Safety, joined Dr. Bella Dinh-Zarr, Make Roads Safe North American Director, in personal meetings with key Congressmen.

Dr. Bella Dinh-Zarr, Rep. John Mica and Jessica Billings.

Billings, the 2005-2006 SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) National Student of the Year, is currently an intern with SOPHE (Society for Public Health Education) and Make Roads Safe in Washington, DC. She has completed an internship with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and, in April of 2007, she traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, in her role as a United States Youth Ambassador to participate in the UN World Youth Assembly on Road Safety. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of NOYS (National Organizations for Youth Safety), Billings collaborates with various youth organizations on the design and implementation of road safety and prevention programs around the U.S.

In a meeting with James Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Congressman discussed his decades-long dedication to road safety. As Chairman, Oberstar is responsible for all issues relating to transportation, which includes the safety and security of the traveling public. Just this year, Oberstar and the three other ranking members of the Committee sent a formal “Dear Colleague” letter to their fellow Members of Congress in support of Make Roads Safe and all the U.S. endorsers of the Campaign for Global Road Safety.

Dr. Bella Dinh-Zarr, Rep. Elijah Cummings and Jessica Billings.

Dinh-Zarr and Billings met with Representative John Mica (R-FL), the Ranking Republican Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who also signed the “Dear Colleague” letter. Long a supporter of road safety efforts, Congressman Mica assured Make Roads Safe that he would continue to positively influence colleagues about the importance of global road safety.

Make Roads Safe had a productive meeting with Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD). Cummings formerly served as Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. Since 1969, the CBC has been involved in legislative initiatives ranging from employment to welfare reform, South African apartheid and international human rights, from minority business development to expanded educational opportunities. Members of the CBC are called the “conscience of Congress” as they have been successful in obtaining strategic positions on House Committees to effect needed changes in federal policies. Recognizing the importance of road safety, Cummings discussed traffic injuries as health issue and pledged his support.

Dr. Bella Dinh-Zarr, Rep. Tim Walz and Jessica Billings.

Next, Dinh-Zarr and Billings met with Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) from Billings’ home state. Congressman Walz, shared personal stories of road travel while living in China. In China, injuries from road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for people 15 to 45 years old. Due to poor road conditions and a lack of prevention programs, road traffic fatalities in China will increase to almost half a million per year by 2020. Through his travels, Walz understands that road safety is both a domestic and global health issue that causes injury, disability and death.

Make Roads Safe also met with key Congressional staffers in other offices during the visit. With the support of its allies in important road safety and public health organizations in the US, such as SOPHE, NOYS and SADD, Make Roads Safe will continue to inform U.S. decision-makers about the importance of road safety as a public health, transportation, economic, and international relations issue.

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