Contact: Jonathan Adkins
202-789-0942

Washington, DC-The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the organization that represents state highway safety agencies, supports World Health Day 2004, which is Wednesday, April 7th. Each year, the World Health Organization selects World Health Day to address a critical global health issue. 2004 marks the first time in history that worldwide road safety and prevention efforts will be highlighted.

GHSA Chair Kathryn Swanson stated:

"It gives GHSA great pleasure to support World Health Day 2004. Too often, highway safety is a forgotten public health issue. The focus that this international effort brings to roadway safety will help bring this issue into the public's consciousness. Losing more than 40,000 of our friends and neighbors each year in traffic crashes is simply unacceptable. As a nation and an international community, we must act to greatly reduce these completely preventable losses. State Highway Safety Offices mark this date by doing the type of critical activities they do year-round-keeping the public safe by enforcing speed limits, getting drunk drivers off the roads and strongly encouraging the public to buckle up. Additionally, special events are planned to draw increased attention to highway safety."

Swanson cited a few of the special activities planned for April 7th in the states and territories including:

Colorado - The Traffic Safety and Engineering branch of the Colorado Department of Transportation will participate in an event at a Denver Hospital promoting alcohol screening. The event will promote the significant role alcohol plays in roadway crashes.

Delaware - The Office of Highway Safety is partnering with the YMCA of Delaware to conduct a free child safety check at the Central Delaware location. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians from the Federal Highway Administration and the Delaware SAFEKIDS Coalition will assist staff from the highway safety office in making sure child seats are correctly installed in vehicles. Additionally, Governor Ruth Ann Minner is issuing a proclamation recognizing April 7th as World Health Day in Delaware.

Georgia - The Governor's Office of Highway Safety is joining Atlanta's Center for Disease Control and Prevention to mark World Health Day. The state is using the occasion to draw attention to its programs to reduce excessive speeding and drunken driving as well as promote seat belt and child safety seat usage.

Guam - The Highway Safety Office is coordinating radio and television coverage of World Health Day. The Office has also arranged for billboard space to be donated highlighting highway safety issues.

Louisiana - The Highway Safety Commission and the Department of Transportation will draw attention to highway work zone construction fatalities at an event in Baton Rouge. Governor Kathleen Blanco has issued a proclamation declaring April 7th World Health Day in Louisiana.

Maryland - The Maryland State Highway Administration is planning to participate in a press event highlighting World Health Day at the University of Maryland's Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. The event highlights Inattentive Driving and Work Zone Safety Month.

Nebraska - The Office of Highway Safety, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Nebraska Cornhusker AAA Motorclub joined Governor Mike Johanns at the state's seat belt enforcement kickoff last week to proclaim April 7th World Health Day in Nebraska.

Ohio - The Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation are using the day to announce that the state has adopted the ambitious federal goal of reducing highway safety deaths to 1.0 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled by the year 2008.

Oklahoma - The week of April 4-10 is Work Zone Safety Awareness Week in Oklahoma. The Director of the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office will participate in a work zone safety event and incorporate World Health Day into the presentation.

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