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PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
The death of Dr Larry Eicher, Secretary General of the International Standards Organization occurred in March after a short illness. An American citizen, Dr Eicher was appointed ISO Secretary General in May 1986, having joined the organization as Assistant Secretary General six years previously. His 38 year career spanned education, science, technology, administration, and management. The special edition of the ISO Bulletin marking the death described Larry Eicher as “the quiet achiever with a global mission”.
US CRASH BILL REACHES $230.6 BILLION
The US Transportation Secretary has announced that the economic impact of motor vehicle crashes on America’s roadways has reached $230.6 billion a year, or an average of $820 for every person living in the United States. His announcement was based on a comprehensive new research study The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes 2000 from the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The new report, based on calendar year 2000 data, calculates the US economic costs of an average roadway fatality at $977 000 and estimates the economic costs associated with a critically injured crash survivor at $1.1 million. The study highlights the vital importance of seat belt use. In one year, the use of seat belts prevents an estimated 11 900 fatalities and 325 000 serious injuries, saving $50 billion in medical care, lost productivity, and other injury related costs. Conversely, the failure of crash victims to wear seat belts leads to an estimated 9200 unnecessary fatalities and 143 000 needless injuries, costing society $26 billion. The report underscores the huge economic costs associated with alcohol involved crashes, which resulted in an estimated 16 792 fatalities in 2000, as well as 513 000 non-fatal injuries, and $50.9 billion in economic costs. Such crashes account for 22% of all crash costs. The study determined that excessive driving speed is associated …