图 | 活动海报
【English Version】The North Carolina Traffic Safety Seminar successfully held. The Chinese community offered suggestions for creating a safer traffic environment
“北卡2023年青少年交通事故死亡105 人 车祸11116 件”
【华人头条美国社记者澄明报导】2025年6月22日（星期日）下午，美国北卡州交通安全联盟（NCAST）在佛光山北卡道场举行了一场专为华人社区的交通安全座谈会，吸引了多位民众冒着酷暑踊跃参加，反映出社区对交通安全问题的高度关心。
本次会议由美国北卡州交通安全联盟（NCAST）主导，并联合美中经济文化协会（CAECA）、华人头条美国社、北卡华人联合会（CAFA）共同主办。与会者包括NCAST执行董事Kim Crouch、北卡凯瑞市前警长Jerry McCormick、北卡州众议员Maria Cervania、凯瑞市议员Sarika Bansal、美中经文创会创始主席卫高荣、华人头条美国社总编宋丹琪等。会议由北卡华人联合会青少年志愿者服务队CAFA YOUTH的Aaron Wang主持，他是华联春晚多年的儿童主持，同时也是IT网络管理部的青少年主管。
政策与倡议：构建更安全的出行环境
会议开始，Kim Crouch女士代表NCAST做交通安全报告。她介绍，NCAST是北卡州政府致力于提升道路交通安全的非营利组织，并得到州长公路安全委员会的支持。她表示，NCAST组织的目标是减少交通事故及伤亡，并通过倡导政策、公众教育和社区合作来推动改变。
Crouch特别强调了几项当前重点工作：
推动立法限制分心驾驶（distractive driving），支持“免提通话”（hands free）法案；
加强对酒驾的执法和法律透明度；
支持青少年驾驶安全项目；【根据互联网北卡2023年青少年交通事故数据“死亡105 人，2023 青少年车禍11116 件】
推广分级驾驶执照制度；
倡导增加交通基础设施资金；
倡导以公平方式打击危险驾驶行为。
她表示：“我们的目标是从根源上改变人们对交通安全的态度与行为，不只是事后处理伤害。”
华人社区踊跃建言：从路口红绿灯到行人安全
会议大部分时间用于听取华人社区代表的意见和问题，涵盖内容广泛，既包括具体路段的红绿灯设置问题，也涉及城市高危路口的隐患、自行车与人行道使用规则、交通法律和法规公平性等多个方面。每一个问题Kim Crouch董事、Jerry McCormick前警长、Maria Cervania州议员、Sarika Bansal市议员都一一给予了详细的倾听，分享，解释和回答。
面对一些超出会议上回答的问题，他们恳切表示：“我们不一定能立即解决所有问题，但一定会将社区的声音带到相关部门！”
痛惜事故：众议员悼念华裔女孩，疾呼重视
北卡州Maria Cervania众议员在发言中，特别提及2023年11月发生在凯瑞市David Drive、H Mart超市前的一起严重交通事故。事故造成一名华裔女孩不幸身亡。
她说：“当我得知这起事故的第一时间，我就知道那个路口必须进行改善。这是我们必须正视的悲剧——一位聪明、年轻的学生，因为分心驾驶（Distractive Drive）被永远夺走了生命。”
数据触目惊心：“死亡105 人，2023 青少年车祸11116 件” 青少年交通事故敲响警钟
美中经文创会董事长卫高荣也在会上发表感言。他引用北卡2023年青少年交通事故数据“死亡105 人，2023 青少年车禍11116 件”时说：“这让我非常不安，因为我的长孙也刚满17岁，外孙刚满16岁。我相信所有做爷爷奶奶的都能理解我此刻的心情。” 他说：“希望2024，2025 Car crash rate逐年降低！”
美中经文协会赞助商副主席江孙东, CAECA副秘书长唐敏准备惊喜小礼物礼物(夏季水果)，创会副会长王拉柱捐赠瓶装水。北卡华人联合会为此次会议做了大量周到细致的准备工作。感谢北卡佛光山提供道场，感谢北卡佛光山妙舟法师，知三法师，陈美凤会长，谢月娥会长对本次会议的爱心支持。
与会者表示这是一个对社会和家庭非常有意义的活动。NCAST每年举办三场社区会议，以收集公众对交通安全及相关问题的意见与反馈。本次会议专为华人社区举办，是2025年年度三场会议之一。
如需了解如何提供帮助，NCAST官网：https://www.besafenc.org/
【English Version】The North Carolina Traffic Safety Seminar successfully held. The Chinese community offered suggestions for creating a safer traffic environment
（105 Teen Deaths, 11,116 Car Crashes in 2023: NC Chinese Community Gathers for Road Safety Meeting）
Reported by Cheng Ming | Chinese Headline News Media, USA
On Sunday afternoon, June 22, the North Carolina Alliance for Safe Transportation (NCAST) held a special traffic safety town hall for the Chinese community at the Fo Guang Shan Temple in North Carolina. Despite the summer heat, many local residents attended, reflecting the community’s strong concern about traffic safety.
The event was organized by NCAST, with co-hosting support from the Chinese American Economic and Cultural Association (CAECA), Chinese Headline News Media USA, and the North Carolina Chinese American Friendship Association.
Attendees included:
• Kim Crouch, Executive Director of NCAST
• Jerry McCormick, former Cary Police Captain
• Maria Cervania, NC State Representative
• Sarika Bansal, Cary City Council Member
• John Wei, Founding Chair of CAECA
• Catherine Song, President/Chief Editor of Chinese Headline News US
The meeting was moderated by Aaron, a Chinese American youth representative from the CAFA, NC Chinese Friendship Association.
Policies & Initiatives: Building Safer Roads from the Ground Up
Kim Crouch opened the session with a comprehensive report on transportation safety. NCAST, a nonprofit supported by the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program, aims to reduce traffic incidents and fatalities through legislative advocacy, public education, and community collaboration.
Crouch highlighted several ongoing priorities:
• Supporting legislation to ban distracted driving, promoting a “hands-free” law;
• Strengthening DUI enforcement and transparency;
• Promoting teen driver safety programs;
(Data: 105 youth deaths and 11,116 crashes involving teens in NC in 2023)
• Expanding the graduated licensing system;
• Advocating for transportation infrastructure investment;
• Ensuring equity in traffic law enforcement.
“Our mission is to change people’s attitudes and behaviors toward road safety at the root—not just respond to tragedies afterward,” she said.
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Community Voices: From Traffic Lights to Pedestrian Safety
Much of the meeting was dedicated to community input. Attendees raised a wide range of concerns, from poorly timed traffic signals and hazardous intersections to bike lane regulations and fairness in law enforcement.
Kim Crouch, former Captain McCormick, Rep. Cervania, and Councilwoman Bansal attentively listened to each issue, offering explanations and responses.
“We may not be able to solve every issue right away,” they said sincerely, “but we will carry your voices to the appropriate departments.”
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Tragic Case Sparks Urgency: State Rep Honors Young Victim
State Representative Maria Cervania gave an emotional speech about a fatal crash in November 2023 on David Drive near H Mart in Cary, where a young Chinese American girl lost her life.
“The moment I heard about the crash, I knew that intersection had to be fixed. This tragedy—where a smart, young student lost her life due to distracted driving—must be a wake-up call for all of us.”
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Disturbing Numbers Demand Action
CAECA Chairman John Wei shared his personal concern over the data:
“When I heard that 105 teens died and there were over 11,000 crashes in 2023, I felt deeply unsettled. My eldest grandson just turned 17,another is 16. I believe every grandparent here understands how I feel.”
“We all hope to see the car crash rate decline in 2024 and 2025.”
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Community Support & Meaningful Engagement
The event was full of thoughtful gestures:
• Vice Chair Jiang Sundong and Deputy Secretary Tang Min of CAECA brought surprise gifts (fresh summer fruit).
• Vice President Wang Lazhu donated bottled water.
• The NC Chinese Association prepared thoroughly for the event.
• Special thanks were extended to the Fo Guang Shan Temple, Venerables Miaozhou and Zhisan, and community leaders Meifeng Chen and Yue’e Xie for their heartfelt support.
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Ongoing Engagement
This event was one of NCAST’s three annual community forums, and the only one dedicated to the Chinese community in 2025.
Attendees expressed that the event was deeply meaningful—not only for public safety, but also for families and youth.
Want to Help or Learn More?
Visit NCAST’s official website: https://www.besafenc.org
