The Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIPF) the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) and Vietnam Helmet Wearing Coalition are holding a Concert and Road show on Dec28th in Haiphong city. This event will highlight the passage of Resolution 32, mandating that all motorcyclists wear a helmet when riding. Also, a Helmets for Kids event will be held earlier in the day at Cat Bi Primary School. 1,697 helmets will be donated to the teachers and students in grades one through five.
Resolution 32 was passed in 15 Dec 2007 to combat the rising number of traffic fatalities resulting from improper safety precautions when riding a motorcycle. On December 15th, the law went into effect in all provinces and cities especially Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. As a result there has been a dramatic and immediate drop in head injuries. The Saigon Times Daily and Vietnam News have already reported a 50% reduction in the number of road deaths and head injuries in the major cities. However, the number of illegal helmets on the roads is increasing. Instead of wearing helmets as safety precaution, citizens are wearing in order to avoid the traffic safety fine. This concert is intended to help raise safety awareness and the public’s understanding of proper helmet precautions.
To open the event, a team of uniformed motorbike riders wearing helmets will parade around the city to attract people’s attention. Well known singers, dancers, and comedians will be performing including My Linh, Minh Quan, Thai Thuy Linh, Kitty Band. The concert will last 100 minutes, and will consist of singers’ performances; comedy sketches relating to traffic safety; a helmet fashion collection; and a talk show with a doctor, victim of a traffic accident and Miss Hai Phong, Miss Vietnam International.
“Even with this momentous accomplishment, however, our work is far from finished. The experience of other countries shows that compliance rates for helmet laws can drop dramatically in ensuing months and years. Drops in 24/7 compliance have already emerged as an issue, with the vast majority of violations occurring in the evenings” Says Greig Craft – President and Founder of AIPF. “ Most post-December 15 brain injuries have been among riders who did not wear helmets; wore them incorrectly; or were wearing poor-quality helmets. With this in mind, our work is more important than ever. It is imperative that we not be lulled into a false sense of security” he adds.
Earlier in the day AIPF, in partnership with the NTSC and VHWC will hold a Helmets for Kids event at Cat Bi Primary School. 1,697 helmets will be donated to students, grades one through five. Dr. Jean-Marc Olivé, Representative of the WHO stated, “Our donation is meant, to ensure that all helmets worn on the road have passed safety regulations, and are worn correctly with the chin strap secured. Many riders today are wearing helmets to avoid fines instead of ensuring their own safety Riders should buy good quality helmets and wear them properly”
The Michelin representative, Neo Chee Cheong, Vietnam Chief Representative of Michelin Asia (Singapore) Co Pte Ltd added, “Michelin wants to be a leader in the community. Through thoughtful donations and active leadership, Michelin can provide an example to many corporations of the merits of civic engagement. Our donation is helping to save lives and spread the message. Hopefully these children will then tell their families and word of mouth can change the local community’s opinion on helmets.”
About the Vietnam Helmet Wearing Coalition (VHWC): VHWC is a group of organizations and businesses dedicated to improving the road traffic safety environment in Vietnam - particularly promoting public awareness on helmet wearing. Chaired by the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, VHWC includes: the Asian Development Bank, AusAID, the Royal Danish Embassy, the US Embassy, the World Bank,WHO, Intel Products Vietnam and Michelin Asia (Singapore). Other potential members are being contacted for support.
About AIPF: AIPF is a US non-profit organization whose goal is to reduce injuries from road crashes, particularly involving children. The Foundation is implementing a national primary school education curriculum, and road safety public awareness campaigns. Its Helmets for Kids program has distributed more than 300,000 child helmets to primary schools throughout Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. The program is now being expanded into Africa. AIPF’s not-for-profit Protec Helmet Company has developed the world’s first ‘tropical’ helmet, and child motorbike helmet standard. The physically disabled are employed to assemble the helmets at the AIPF factory, creating a valuable social model. All profits are put back into the community.
H.Ly
Vietnamese
