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On the Road with ASIRT _____________________Spring 2025
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Commemorating 30 Years of ASIRT: A Journey of Loss, Progress, and Hope
Dear Friends,
It is with both deep sorrow and immense pride that we approach the 30th anniversary of ASIRT — the Association for Safe International Road Travel. The pain of losing our beloved son, Aron, in a road crash at just 25 years old remains an unrelenting, soul-wrenching sadness. Time does not, nor should it ever, diminish the depth of our loss. Aron is, and always will be, profoundly missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.
Yet, alongside this immeasurable grief, we hold a deep appreciation for the progress that has been made since that devastating day — progress that continues to protect lives on roads around the world.
Over the past three decades, ASIRT has been at the forefront of transforming road safety from an overlooked issue into a global priority. What was once rarely acknowledged as a public health crisis is now recognized as a critical, preventable threat to communities, economies, and families. Governments, NGOs, international organizations, corporations, and individuals alike have embraced the shared responsibility of creating safer roads. Thanks to the dedication of tireless advocates, we have seen groundbreaking advancements in infrastructure, road management, vehicle safety, driver assistance technology, enforcement, and post-crash care. Campaigns promoting walkable cities, sustainable transportation, and shared spaces for pedestrians and all road users continue to drive meaningful change.
On Wednesday, November 12th, at ASIRT’s annual gala, we will reflect on the past and look ahead to the future as we commemorate 30 years of advocacy and impact. Inspired by the lives lost on the world’s roads, we will honor challenges overcome and celebrate the progress achieved.
We invite you to join us for this exciting and important event as we reaffirm our commitment to saving lives and building a safer world for all.
Warmly,
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Rochelle Sobel
Founder and President
ASIRT
| | ASIRT Participates in Global Ministerial Conference in Morocco | | ASIRT Executive Director Cathy Silberman (second row, right) with members of the Alliance of Road Safety NGOs at the launch of the NGO Symposium | | |
ASIRT joined more than 5,000 attendees and leaders from approximately 193 countries at the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety that was held in Marrakech, Morocco, February 18 – 20, 2025, to endorse the Marrakech Declaration, which calls on governments to make road safety a political priority, ensure sustained funding, and advance actions to achieve the goal of halving road deaths by 2030.
Hosted by the Government of Morocco and the World Health Organization, with the theme of "One Road, One World, Commit to Life," the summit brought together road safety leaders and experts. Among the first events of the weeklong series of panels, ASIRT Executive Director Cathy Silberman led a discussion by representatives from North America, Canada, and Europe on the progress made since the last ministerial conference and the challenges of improving road safety at the regional and local levels. Read more.
| | | Register to play!
"Drive the Ball” for Road Safety
Pickleball Tournament
Sunday, May 4, 2025
9am – 12pm Pickleball Tournament
12pm – 1pm Learn-to-Play Clinic
Dill Dinkers, North Bethesda, MD
Sponsorship opportunities available. | Save the Date!
30th Annual ASIRT Gala
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
American University College of Law
Washington, DC
Details to follow | | | |
Ambassador Marc Grossman, ASIRT Advisory Board Member, for receiving the prestigious American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) 2024 Award for Lifetime Contributions in American Diplomacy in recognition of his long and distinguished career in the U.S. Foreign Service. Read the full interview with Ambassador Grossman and about his ongoing support of ASIRT and road safety.
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“I am honored to support ASIRT. Making roads safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists is a classic case of 'it does not have to be this way.' Radically reducing the deaths and injuries caused by road crashes is about better education and awareness, road safety technologies, enforcement, and making road safety a priority and not just a talking point.”
— Ambassador Marc Grossman
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"Dr. Vegega continues to pursue her global interests as a board member of the Association of Safe International Road Travel, an education and advocacy group dedicated to combatting deadly and disabling road crashes worldwide."
— TR News,
January – March 2025
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ASIRT Board Member Dr. Maria Vegega for being highlighted in TR News, the bimonthly news magazine of The Transportation Research Board. During her four-decade career at NHTSA, Dr. Vegega transformed insights on human behavior into life-saving advances in transportation practice and policy. Read about Dr. Vegega’s work as a Road Safety and Crash Prevention Consultant and her involvement with ASIRT.
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A Journey Through Uganda: Beauty, Chaos, and Unforgettable Experiences
Guest contributor Nava Oxman
My extended family and I embarked on an amazing trip to Uganda from December 24, 2024 to January 1, 2025. We landed in Entebbe and then traveled to Kampala, Jinja to see the source of the Nile, and finally to Murchison Falls National Park for a safari.
Uganda is a stunning country with warm, kind, and friendly people. Throughout our trip, however, we were constantly struck by the absolute chaos on the roads. Even though we hired local drivers, navigating the traffic was challenging and, at times, unnerving. While we were assured that our vehicles had functional safety features, we often found seat belts that were stuck or didn’t properly lock.
The roads were a whirlwind of congestion — cars, rickshaws, bicycles, trucks, and pedestrians all competing for space. Street vendors, many of them young children, lined the roadsides, rushing toward vehicles the moment traffic slowed, eager to sell their goods. Read more.
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A boda boda motorcyclist transports an oversized load
of bananas
| | Large potholes dot a road in Uganda | | A boda boda driver carries people without helmets on the back of his motorcycle | | |
We are grateful to Nava Oxman, our guest contributor, for her keen observations. While some progress is being made, road conditions, driver behaviors, and law enforcement are not being sufficiently addressed in many countries and continue to pose serious challenges. ASIRT recommends that travelers familiarize themselves with the road risks they may encounter as they plan their itineraries.
Contact ASIRT if you would like to share your travel experiences in a future ASIRT newsletter. If you are preparing for a trip abroad, ASIRT’s Road Safety Reviews (RSRs) address road safety issues and offer useful travel information. Click here to purchase a Road Safety Review for the country of your choice.
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===RSR Fast Fact: Luxembourg
Traveling to Luxembourg? Here’s good news: not only is the country’s modern public transportation network of buses, trams, and trains regarded as efficient and safe, travel is also almost entirely free provided you stay within the country’s borders. There are two caveats: First class travel does involve a fee. Also, all passengers over the age of twelve traveling aboard cross-border trains and long-distance buses into the neighboring countries of Belgium, France, and Germany must pay for tickets. Violators face hefty fines.
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Update: ASIRT Road Safety Reviews
Recently published RSRs include: Bolivia, Eswatini, Luxembourg, and Sierra Leone.
Free sample reports can be downloaded at asirt.org/resources. Subscriptions are now available for 1, 8, 20, or all reports.
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Do You Know?
Top Ten Most Significant Vehicle Devices That Have Improved Road Safety
Vehicle safety technology has advanced significantly over the years, contributing to a marked reduction in road traffic fatalities and injuries and making modern cars far safer than those of previous generations. Here are 10 of the most significant vehicle devices with the greatest impact on improving road safety:
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1. Seat belts
Significance: the most effective safety device ever introduced. They restrain occupants during a crash, preventing them from being ejected from the vehicle or colliding with the interior. Seat belts have saved millions of lives since their widespread adoption.
2. Airbags
Significance: provide a cushion that protects occupants' heads and torsos during a collision, reducing the risk of serious injuries. Modern vehicles are equipped with multiple airbags, including front, side, and curtain airbags, significantly enhancing occupant safety.
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3. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Significance: prevents the wheels from locking during heavy braking, maintaining steering control and reducing the likelihood of skidding. This system is particularly effective on slippery surfaces and in emergency braking situations.
4. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Significance: helps prevent vehicles from skidding or losing control during sharp turns or sudden maneuvers. It automatically applies brakes to individual wheels and reduces engine power to keep the vehicle stable, greatly reducing the risk of rollovers and severe crashes.
View the complete Top Ten list.
| | Source: Information prepared by ASIRT Advisory Board member Richard Finch | | |
In the News
Read about the debate between manual and automatic transmissions.
(Peterattiamd.com)
Highway widening projects usually don’t solve congestion, but less expensive toll programs known as congestion pricing can. Learn why.
(Scientific American)
Can American drivers learn to love roundabouts? They save lives, reduce traffic, and cut emissions. See why communities still resist them.
(Bloomberg)
Supersizing vehicles offers minimal safety benefits — but substantial dangers. Read about the risks.
(IIHS-HLDI)
A recent study reveals that E-scooters reduce bike collision risk. Learn how.
(BBC)
| | ASIRT Thanks Its Generous Corporate Sponsors | | Support ASIRT's mission to improve road safety. Make a contribution today. | | | | |
