Editor,

ASIRT, The Association for Safe International Road Travel commends the National Road Safety Committee in Tonga for its commitment to road safety; today it held a National Road Safety Workshop to design with a National Road Safety Plan addressing the problem of unsafe roads and irresponsible drivers.

Road crashes are among the leading causes of deaths worldwide. Under-developed roads, poor signage and visibility, lack of seatbelt and helmet use, and reckless drivers, including those who speed or drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, kill 1.3 million people every year. These deaths are pointless and tragic; luckily, they can be prevented.

The National Road Safety Plan in Tonga is an excellent first step in the right direction towards increasing the safety of its citizens; Tonga Police Force Commander Chris Kelley put it well: "it is actually about people, families and about saving lives and making our roads safer" ("Changing attitudes will lead to safer roads," Matangi: Tonga Online, July 28, 2009). This is a humanitarian issue being given humanitarian solutions. Kudos, National Road Safety Committee of Tonga!

Rochelle Sobel
President, Association for Safe International Road Travel

asirt2 [at] asirt [dot] org