Vietnam/ WHO and AIP Foundation join forces to promote road safety among young people
On October 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) Vietnam and Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) launched a partnership to support the Vietnamese government in improving road safety for children and young people.
The shared vision of the Vietnam Foundation's Project 2000 Road Safety Partnership is to reduce to zero the number of tragic deaths of children and young people who die on Vietnam's roads every year, from over 2.000 deaths - or around five a day.
This partnership is a joint initiative of the WHO, as the UN's lead agency for global road safety, and the ASEAN Foundation.The partnership is a joint initiative of WHO, as the UN's lead agency for global road safety, and the AIP Foundation, with financial support from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety and the FIA Foundation, as well as 15 other partners from civil society, academia, the private sector and international development partners.
WHO's representative in Vietnam, Dr Angela Pratt, said the new partnership aims to help Vietnam achieve its own road safety goals through coordinated actions to improve road safety.curity goals through coordinated, evidence-based and results-oriented actions.
"The tragic number of children dying on Vietnamese roads is slowly decreasing, but we need to do more. Every death is one too many. Road safety is everyone's business. That's why we're delighted to officially launch the Vietnam Project 2000 Partnership today, and invite supporters and partners to join us in our efforts to reduce the number of children who die every year on Vietnamese roads. This partnership aims to support the government's efforts to protect Vietnam's youngest and most vulnerable road users".
The partnership will focus its activities on three challenges: motorcyclist safety, school zone safety and child restraint systems. It aims to ensure that all children wear safe, affordable and approved helmets suitable for Vietnam. It will also promote safe driving, thanks to adapted and safe infrastructures, around schools, especially during rush hours.
The partnership will also support the implementation of new laws, effective January1, 2026, requiring children under 10 years of age or measuring less than 135 cm in vehicles to be secured in a safe child restraint system (also known as a car seat). Children under 10 must also be seated in the rear seat.
Measures taken in these three areas have proved to be among the most effective in protecting children from injury and death on the road.
As part of the partnership's commitment to concrete action, immediately after the launch a practical workshop on helmet safety was held with a wide range of participants. The workshop focused on how to facilitate access to affordable, certified helmets and promote proper helmet use.
The founder and president of the AIP Foundation, Greig F. Craft, said that the loss of 2.000 children each year represents not only profound tragedies for families, but also a considerable burden on the country's healthcare system, economy and society.
"These tragedies are not inevitable, even if they are preventable. The AIP Foundation is therefore proud to collaborate with WHO Vietnam and other partners. Together, we are committed to protecting our children, preserving our communities and building a safer future for all, where no unnecessary lives are lost on the roads."
Source: lecourrier.vn/
