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This was part of activities co-organised by the Ministry of Transport, the AIP Foundation, the WHO and UNICEF.

Ms Quentin Bryce said, "The Vietnamese Government, the Australian Embassy, the AIP Foundation and other partners have made a commitment to increase the number of children wearing helmets to 80% over the next three years. During this time it will be critical to educate parents and families about wearing helmets, not just sometimes, but every time the family is travelling on a motorbike."

Through Helmets for Kids, the Australian Embassy donated helmets and road safety education to 924 students and 54 teachers in Hanoi. Studies show that wearing a helmet on a motorbike reduces the likelihood of serious brain injury by 69 percent and death by 42 percent.

The Vietnamese government's objective in the Decade of Action for Road Safety is to reduce the traffic fatality rate by 38 percent, from 13 per 100,000 population to 8 per 100,000 population.

AIP Foundation has implemented a communication campaign featuring ten celebrities promoting road safety to raise awareness in advance of the launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety.  The campaign includes a television commercial, billboards, and news and online media coverage in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang, with the message: "Together, we can save millions of lives."

The Foundation will also promote road safety at the grassroots level through community-based programs including street walks, photo exhibitions, and activities at traffic safety parks.

"Road safety is an issue that affects everyone, every day. However, it does not receive nearly the same attention as other major public health issues," said Mirjam Sidik, Executive Director of AIP Foundation. "The Decade of Action for Road Safety is a unique opportunity to highlight the devastating impact of road traffic crashes on both the individual and the nation.  11,000 people die every year due to road traffic crashes in Vietnam.  This level of loss is unacceptable," he stated.

Source: VOV