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Global Newsletter May 2014
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Dear friends and supporters,
For many years, AIP Foundation has been lobbying with relevant road safety stakeholders and the government to tackle the use of sub-standard helmets in Vietnam. We are pleased to see that the government has finally developed an action plan for "authorities to crackdown on dangerous 'eggshell' helmets." Read the full news article here.
Also this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) released their report "Health for the world's adolescents," revealing that road traffic injuries are the number 1 cause of adolescent deaths globally, and the number 2 cause of illness and disability. Together, we must continue to strengthen our initiatives to address this alarming number.
Please read on to see how we are promoting safe roads for our youth.
Kind regards,
Mirjam Sidik
Chief Executive Officer
Asia Injury Prevention Foundation
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1. Global
2. Vietnam
3. Cambodia
4. Thailand
5. China
6. Uganda
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News update:
Road traffic injuries, the top cause of adolescent deaths - Road traffic injuries are the number 1 cause of adolescent deaths globally, and the number 2 cause of illness and disability. Boys are disproportionately affected, with more than three times the rate of deaths than that of girls. Increasing access to reliable and safe public transport can reduce road traffic injuries among adolescents. Road safety regulations (e.g. alcohol and speed limits), establishing safe pedestrian areas around schools, and graduated licensing schemes where drivers privileges are phased in over time, can all reduce risks.
Source: World Health Organization, 14 May 2014.
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Decade of Action Forum: vote for road safety as a post - 2015 priority
5-7 May – Melbourne, Australia
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Mirjam Sidik, CEO of AIP Foundation and Allison Zellkowitz, Thailand Country Director of Save the Children attend the Decade of Action Policy and Donor Forum in Melbourne. |
The Decade of Action Policy and Donor Forum, held in Melbourne, Australia called for road safety to be included in the new 'post-2015' goals for global development currently being debated at the United Nations.
The Forum brought together governments, NGOs and automobile clubs, and private sectors from across Asia Pacific, as well as global institutions including the World Bank and World Health Organization.
The event is part of a global 'Week of Action' to encourage participation in the UN's global 'My World' vote, which has already seen 2 million people cast votes for their priorities in the next global development goals.
Make your voice heard by going to the MY World website and vote for your top priorities. In the priorities, we ask you to vote for better transport and roads and also suggest road safety in the 'optional' priority tab.
Source: FIA Foundation
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News Update:
Authorities to crackdown on dangerous 'eggshell' helmets- Motorcyclists may soon be fined if found wearing substandard helmets. In a recommendation by the National Traffic Safety Committee, traffic police would be empowered to seize substandard helmets from motorbike riders. According to the plan, which would come into operation on June 15, traffic police would at first stop riders wearing substandard helmets and warn them. HCM City's Traffic Safety Committee said it planned to begin a month long program to help people understand the difference between safe and unsafe products.
Source: The Vietnam News, 19 May 2014.
CLEAR brings road safety education to two primary schools in Hai Duong
23 & 25 April - Hai Duong
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Students of Tai Son Primary School are informed on safe road skills. |
On April 23 and 25, AIP Foundation, supported by CLEAR, organized road safety extracurricular activities for two primary schools, Ky Son and Tai Son Primary School. The events were attended by 971 students, teachers, parents, and local authorities. Educational and entertaining activities were conducted to help students retain road safety messages, particularly about helmet use. Activities included, traffic sign games, decorating helmets, road safety quizzes, and performances.
After each activity day, a group discussion was conducted to evaluate the result of the
Helmets for Kids program and activities. At both schools, parents and teachers enjoyed partaking in the games and requested for information sessions to be conducted more often to allow them to better prepare themselves and increase their involvement and participation at future events.
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Abbott employees volunteer to promote helmet use and road safety skills among students
21-24 May – Ho Chi Minh City
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Abbott volunteers share road safety messages with students of Tan Quy Tay Primary School. |
From May 21 to 24, extracurricular activities were held at four Abbott
Helmets for Families schools in Binh Chanh District and District 12 of Ho Chi Minh City. At the event, Abbott volunteers played active roles in facilitating and supporting the activities which included, road safety message challenges, picture puzzles, cross word puzzles, and a helmet fashion show at each school.
The students were very excited to participate in all activities which aimed to reinforce helmet use and prepare them with road safety skills for their long summer break.
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FedEx holds Pedestrian Safety Photo Exhibition and Award Ceremony for 4,175 competition entries
29 May – Ho Chi Minh City
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VIP guests open the top 100 photo exhibition at Dam Sen Park. |
AIP Foundation sponsored by FedEx and in collaboration with the National Traffic Safety Committee and the Ministry of Education and Training held an award ceremony for the winners of the 2014 Pedestrian Safety Photography Competition. Over two months, the contest to promote pedestrian safety among secondary school students received a total of 4,175 entries and attracted over 60,000 registrations nationwide.
The award ceremony held at Dam Sen Park, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City, recognized the outstanding performance of the winning students and included the opening of the top 100 photo exhibition. Members of the public are invited to visit the exhibition which will be displayed in Dam Sen Park for one month, starting on May 29 to June 29, 2014.
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News update:
New traffic law could save money and lives - Better laws and enforcement that require motorbike riders and children to wear helmets could save more than 500 lives and $100 million over the next six years, a new study says. The study, undertaken by the Asian Injury Prevention Foundation, says a new law now being drafted by the government's National Road Safety Committee, could help drop the death rate and save the government money. Nearly 2,000 people died and more than 6,000 were injured in road accidents in 2013 alone.
Source: Voice of America Cambodia, 7 May 2014.
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AIP Foundation reveals passenger helmet law could save Cambodia $100 million USD
7 May– Phnom Penh
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Pagna Kim, Cambodia Country Director of AIP Foundation is interviewed at the Press Conference. |
On May 7, AIP Foundation released the results of a study on the cost and life-savings of the passage and enforcement of a Cambodian passenger helmet law for adults and children. The announcement is part of a cross-agency effort to persuade the Cambodian government to immediately enact and enforce a draft traffic law mandating passenger helmet use.
If the passenger helmet law is passed in 2014 and enforced in the beginning of 2015, helmet use rates among passengers are estimated to increase from seven percent to 55 percent in 2015 and by five percent each following year, reaching 80 percent by 2020. As a result, roughly 561 fatalities will be prevented, 10,572 head injuries avoided, and up to $100 million USD saved from 2015 to 2020.
The model used by AIP Foundation to calculate life and cost-savings was adapted from those used in public health by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study supports road safety stakeholders' efforts to improve passenger, including child, helmet use over the next two years.
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Peer-to-Peer education continues to amplify road safety knowledge among youth
7, 9, 16, 23 May - Phnom Penh
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A student shares road safety messages among his peers. |
This month, 200 students participated in AIP Foundation's peer-to-peer road safety education program. Funded by Chevron, the sessions updated students on the new traffic law changes and increased road safety awareness school wide.
The sessions do not include class teachers which encourages students to engage more comfortably and share real life examples with their peer educators and fellow students.
The program aims to maintain sustainability of the
Helmets for Youth campaign messages and encourage students to share road safety information with their friends and family, and in parallel allows students to familiarize themselves with important road safety skills and risks.
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Chevron delivers road safety education assemblies to 1,000 high school students
10, 12, 19, 26 May – Phnom Penh
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A student receives a helmet campaign t-shirt after participating in a road safety education assembly. |
AIP Foundation, partnered by Chevron, hosted road safety assemblies at two high schools in Phnom Penh. Reaching a total of 1,000 students, school principals informed their students about the importance of road safety and the schools enforcement of helmet use for youth. Students were quizzed about general road safety issues, particularly around helmet use.
By hosting these education sessions during school assemblies, students are reminded about road safety, and teachers and principals are reminded to implement these messages in their day to day classes.
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News Update:
Thailand government launches mobile app to enhance road safety - The National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (NECTEC), a statutory government organization under Ministry of Science and Technology in Thailand, has launched a mobile application to reduce the risk of road traffic accident. Thailand has the second highest global road accident rate per 100,000 citizens. The free application known as 'SafeMate' uses the accelerometer sensor on the smart phone to analyze the driver's behavior in real time. The app alerts drivers when it detects dangerous movements such as sudden braking and swerving.
Source: Asia Pacific Future Gov, 8 May 2014.
New road safety project receive support from the Government and Royal Thai Police
29 April and 16 May - Bangkok
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AIP Foundation representatives met with Mr.Chesta Mosikkarath, Director of Disaster Accident and Road Traffic Safety Integrated Collaboration Bureau and Police Colonel Kriangdesh Chantrawong, Commander of Traffic Policy and Planning, Special Task Planning Division. |
On April 29, AIP Foundation met with the Disaster Accident and Road Traffic Safety Integrated Collaboration Bureau who agreed to collaborate and support future activities and road safety initiatives with AIP Foundation and Save the Children. The meeting discussed upcoming projects including
Helmets for Kids and the new 7% Project. This new project aims to decrease motorcycle fatalities and injury among children by promoting regular helmet use as the accepted norm.
Then, on May 16, AIP Foundation, along with Save the Children, met with the Special Task Planning Division of the Royal Thai Police to also discuss ways to support and implement new activities in 2014 and beyond.
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National Geographic features AIP Foundation in a television public service announcement
4 May - Thailand
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Greig Craft, Founder of AIP Foundation discusses why he started the organization. |
Produced by National Geographic and the Fox Sports network, AIP Foundation is featured in a television public service announcement airing throughout Asia. The video shares the story of how Greig Craft, Founder of AIP Foundation started the organization and what inspired him to make a difference and save lives across Thailand and Southeast Asia.
View the video here.
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Vespiario donates 140 helmets to low-income preschool students
7 May – Minburi
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Ratana Winther, Thailand Country Director of AIP Foundation with students of Ban Kookot Preschool. |
This month, Vespiario generously donated 140 helmets to students at high-risk traffic school, Ban Kookot Preschool. Located in the Minburi District within Bangkok, the school area has no sidewalks and is surrounded with many traffic blind spots. With the donation of additional helmets, AIP Foundation hopes to create road safety awareness for the school's students, parents, teachers and local community.
For more photos, click here.
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Chevron hosts road safety activity day for 1,200 people in Gaoqiao
8 May – Gaoqiao
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Prominent guests and community members celebrate Community Road Safety Week in Gaoqiao. |
To celebrate Community Road Safety Week, on May 8, Chevron and AIP Foundation, organized a road safety activity day at Gaoqiao Middle School. As part of a multi-year project to promote road safety education in Sichuan and Chongqinq provinces the activity day aimed to instill smart road user behavior among children and families of the Gaoqiao community.
More than 1,200 people attended the event joining in road safety games, performances, and Q&A sessions to teach important road safety skills to children and their families. Attendees also participated with various road safety stalls. Led by prominent members of the community, different stalls hosted road safety games and information stands where participants were given t-shirts and reflective caps to improve pedestrian visibility on the roads.
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New Update:
Kampala is set for USD 175 million road network facelift - Kampala Capital City Authority is planning to transform the face of the city's road network within the next four years. By December 2019, Kampala will have faster movement, easier access to markets and better road safety, according to official sources. On February 25, the World Bank approved a $175 million loan to Uganda for the second Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDP). KCCA spokesman Peter Kaujju confirmed to The Observer that the entire project will cost $183 million, with World Bank funding covering 95 per cent of the total budget and government raising 5 per cent ($8.3m).
Source: All Africa, 27 May 2014.
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