BELLEVUE, Wash., April 5 /PRNewswire/ --
WHAT: Annual event held every year on April 7 to raise awareness of critical global health issue. For first time ever, theme for this year’s World Health Day is “Road Safety.” WHO: World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), federal agencies such as Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Transportation, AAA and other key public health and transportation partners, and hundreds of concerned groups worldwide host events related to road traffic safety to raise awareness and increase understanding of these preventable types of injuries and deaths. WHEN: April 7, a day devoted to making roadways safer for you, your loved ones, and your community. WHERE: Worldwide. Join concerned citizens around the world in using this opportunity to educate, build awareness, and promote life-saving interventions about road traffic safety. Locally, AAA Washington/Inland offices will distribute green commemorative ribbons to members and customers to call attention to the need for everyone to buckle their seatbelts for safety. WHY: Worldwide, 1.2 million people die each year from road traffic-related injuries. In the United States alone, more than 40,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes each year, making it one of the leading causes of death and injury. If all motor vehicle occupants consistently wore safety belts, at least 9,000 American lives would be saved each year and 160,000 non-fatal injuries would be prevented. Medical costs due to motor vehicle-related injuries in the United States exceeded $21 billion in 2000. Globally, the economic burden is enormous, with road traffic injuries costing $518 billion annually WEBSITES: http://www.who.int/world-health-day/2004/en/http://www.aaapublicaffairs.com/ MEDIA CONTACTS: AAA Washington/Inland Janet Ray, 425-646-2058, or JanetRay@aaawin.com Dave Overstreet, 509-358-6950, or DaveOverstreet@aaawin.com ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A complete news release and road safety facts sheet are also available by contacting Janet Ray or Dave Overstreet.
AAA Washington
CONTACT: Janet Ray, +1-425-646-2058, or JanetRay@aaawin.com, or DaveOverstreet, +1-509-358-6950, or DaveOverstreet@aaawin.com, both of AAAWashington
Web site: http://www.aaa.com/
