President's Message Tony DeNovellis President and CEO You Can Make a Difference in World Health The term "world health" tends to evoke images of people in foreign countries suffering from horrific diseases such as malaria, AIDS or SARS. Few people in this part of the world would include themselves as an at-risk group when considering world health issues. The fact is, every year, more than 1.2 million people die in motor-vehicle crashes, and an estimated 10 to 15 million people are injured. Sadly, experts predict that road-traffic fatalities will double by the year 2020, thus becoming the third highest cause of death, jumping from its current ranking of ninth. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has chosen the theme of "safe roads" for World Health Day 2004. The WHO aims to raise awareness of traffic safety in hopes of reducing the staggering number of traffic-related fatalities and injuries worldwide that occur each year. To accomplish this goal, the WHO is encouraging individuals and organizations throughout the world to support increased and sustained action in policy, programs, funding and research focusing on traffic safety. Efforts will be launched on April 7, 2004, and continue throughout the year. To contribute to the efforts of the WHO on World Health Day 2004, AAA, along with local, national and other international organizations, will be emphasizing the importance of safety-belt use. Research has indicated that between 1979 and 1999, safety belts have been effective in saving approximately 123,000 lives in the United States alone. In addition, it has been shown that if all motor-vehicle occupants consistently wore safety belts, almost 10,000 deaths could be prevented each year in the United States. To increase safety-belt use, AAA is planning to highlight strategies proven to be effective, such as educational campaigns and implementation of primary seatbelt laws. Some of the diverse AAA efforts will include school safety-patrol activities, child-safety-seat checks, partnerships with medical and public-health professionals, educational presentations, and other community-awareness activities. Individuals can also play a major role in fighting this global health issue, and the good news is that such efforts don't require a medical degree. In fact, there are steps that each of us can take to improve traffic safety. Such steps include wearing a safety belt, obeying traffic laws, avoiding distracted driving and knowing your personal driving limitations. Motor-vehicle crashes threaten people throughout the world: There are very few who are immune to this danger. Along with the WHO and other participating organizations, AAA invites you to join enhanced efforts beginning April 7, 2004, to fight the world health issue that takes place on our very own roadways. Tony DeNovellis President and CEO Return to Table of Contents

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