A representative from the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC), Deputy Chief Secretary Mrs. Trinh Thu Ha, attended the orientation workshop for our new Slow Zone, Safe Zone program being implemented in Pleiku City, Vietnam. The commitment on a national level to the outcomes of the program represents an important achievement for Slow Zone, Safe Zone, which aims to reduce road crash injuries and fatalities in school zones across Pleiku City by improving the road safety environment and culture for students commuting to and from school. The program will do this through a comprehensive set of interventions, including both speed-focused initiatives (speed bumps, rumble strips, and speed signage) as well as other road safety modifications (traffic lights, sidewalks, and proper road markings).

In addition to the NTSC official, the workshop was attended by Mr. Raoul Powlowski, Program Manager for the Global Road Safety Partnership, which manages funding for Slow Zone, Safe Zone on behalf of the Botnar Foundation. Representatives from municipal and provincial government departments, members of the media, community leaders, school administrators, and parents were also invited to participate. The workshop provided an overview of the program, presented baseline findings, and discussed the proposed plan for school modifications. Baseline surveys found that 25% of the 2245 surveyed students reported having been in a road crash, with over 30% of those crashes occurring within the last six months. In addition, 35% of the students’ reported crashes happened near a school zone.

View more photos from the orientation workshop here.