Association for Safe International Road Travel
Encyclopedia
The Association for Safe International Road Travel (usually abbreviated as ASIRT) is a non-profit, humanitarian organization that promotes road travel safety through education and advocacy. Rochelle Sobel, president and founder of ASIRT, created the organization in 1995, in response to her son Aron's death in a bus crash in Turkey
. ASIRT helped found the US Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety
, and is an internationally influential and active organization. Working under the premise that road crashes are predictable and preventable, ASIRT serves the global community with in a variety of ways to help reduce injuries and deaths and the associated social and economic impacts that result from them.
ASIRT serves as a resource to governments, corporations, travel organizations, guidebooks, study abroad programs, health/travel clinics and non-governmental organizations. ASIRT also helps to foster the development of new road safety organizations in other countries.
, however, ASIRT works in Kenya
, Turkey
, Egypt
, and many other countries.
, ASIRT works to increase awareness of U.S. legistlators about the crisis in global road safety. The help of this bi-cameral, bi-partisan caucus
has spearheaded the passing of ASIRT's resolution, H. Con. Res. 87. This resolution solidifies the United States' support for the United Nations
' resolution for a World Remembrance Day for Road Crash Victims and their Families.
Working with Members of the U.S. State Department: ASIRT encourages State Department efforts on road safety by:
Working with the international community: ASIRT is a leader in the global road safety community, informing and cooperating with the World Health Organization
(WHO), the U.N. and the World Bank
.
A compilation of interviews of road crash victims and their families to memorialize and inspire road safety choices that save lives.
ASIRT on the Today Show
On July 6, 2007 ASIRT was featured on the Today Show http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=1ee1af92-522a-4daa-9cbf-38a12e0afd0b&f=00&fg=
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. ASIRT helped found the US Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety
Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety
Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety is a congressional caucus that aims to increase awareness of road safety issues within the House of Representatives. The caucus holds educational briefings to increase knowledge of the pressing matters of road safety, including the effects of...
, and is an internationally influential and active organization. Working under the premise that road crashes are predictable and preventable, ASIRT serves the global community with in a variety of ways to help reduce injuries and deaths and the associated social and economic impacts that result from them.
ASIRT serves as a resource to governments, corporations, travel organizations, guidebooks, study abroad programs, health/travel clinics and non-governmental organizations. ASIRT also helps to foster the development of new road safety organizations in other countries.
ASIRT's Mission
To save lives and minimize crash-related injuries by assisting travelers to manage road risks and inspiring the world to take actions to improve road safety. ASIRT accomplishes this mission through education, advocacy and the creation and support of exemplary, sustainable road safety programs and partnerships worldwide.Organization
ASIRT's headquarters are based in Potomac, MarylandPotomac, Maryland
Potomac is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, named for the nearby Potomac River. The population was 44,822 at the 2000 census. The Potomac area is known for its very affluent and highly-educated residents. In 2009 CNNMoney.com listed Potomac as the fourth...
, however, ASIRT works in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, and many other countries.
Political Achievements and Goals
Working with Members of U.S. Congress: Alongside the Congressional Caucus on Global Road SafetyCongressional Caucus on Global Road Safety
Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety is a congressional caucus that aims to increase awareness of road safety issues within the House of Representatives. The caucus holds educational briefings to increase knowledge of the pressing matters of road safety, including the effects of...
, ASIRT works to increase awareness of U.S. legistlators about the crisis in global road safety. The help of this bi-cameral, bi-partisan caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
has spearheaded the passing of ASIRT's resolution, H. Con. Res. 87. This resolution solidifies the United States' support for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
' resolution for a World Remembrance Day for Road Crash Victims and their Families.
Working with Members of the U.S. State Department: ASIRT encourages State Department efforts on road safety by:
- Providing information to American travelers on the risks of road travel abroad through expanded road safety sections of Consular Information Sheets, and Embassy and State Department websites
- Collecting and disseminating road fatality statistics of U.S. citizens abroad by country and making information available on the U.S. State Department website.
- Facilitating the creation of partnerships between ASIRT and local organizations throughout the world, especially countries where the needs appear the greatest.
Working with the international community: ASIRT is a leader in the global road safety community, informing and cooperating with the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO), the U.N. and the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
.
- Turkey: ASIRT partners with Rotary InternationalRotary InternationalRotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
of Turkey to facilitate Safe Community road safety projects in five cities. ASIRT works with ISHAD, Turkey's Business Life Corporationion Association to create Road Safety Education Centers. - ASIRT/Kenya: ASIRT's first global chapter works to reduce fatalities and injuries among passengers of Matatus (local privately owned transportation vehicles) by offering driver training, emergency medical training for health professionals and child safety seat distribution.
- IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
: ASIRT partners with NGO's to create safe communities. - Egypt: ASIRT partners with Rotary Clubs and the U.S. embassy on road safety initiatives.
Citizens Traveling Abroad
ASIRT provides road safety information to tourists, students and corporate travelors.- Road Travel Reports: ASIRT's user-friendly reports on over 160 countries describing general road conditions; frequent road crash sites; national road safety statistics; driver behavioirs; driving regulation; urban, rural, night, and seasonal travel precautions; pedestrian, passenger and cycle safety tips; quality and availability of emergency medical care, emergency procedures and contact information.
- A Global Road Safety Toolbox for the Study Abroad Community: a manual that helps study-abroad professionals to plan safe itineraries and students to make safe, informed travel choices while studying abroad.
- Training Seminars: ASIRT provides workshops that incorporate road safety education training, as well as student pre-departure campus and on-site orientations. Each workshop is tailored to the specific needs of the participants.
Publications and Media
Faces Behind the Figures:A compilation of interviews of road crash victims and their families to memorialize and inspire road safety choices that save lives.
ASIRT on the Today Show
On July 6, 2007 ASIRT was featured on the Today Show http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=1ee1af92-522a-4daa-9cbf-38a12e0afd0b&f=00&fg=