BANGKOK, Thailand – October 28, 2021

We are losing our next generation at an alarming rate. Children and young adults aged 5-29 are more likely to die from a traffic crash before any other cause of death. In Thailand, according to a Ministry of Public Health report assessing the impact of road crashes between 2011 to 2019, over 26,000 children had died in a motorcycle crash and 265,758 were injured on the roads. The main victims were the age group of 15-19 years, followed by the age group of 10-14 years. Among them, 72% learned to drive a motorcycle from family members and friends, 87% did not pass the safety training, 86% did not have a driving license, and 55% had motorcycle crashes on 100-110 CC. These deaths are preventable. If we want to empower our youth to be a part of the solution, we must listen to them.

At AIP Foundation Thailand, this is exactly what we do through the VIA Road Safety Education for the Next Generation program supported by Michelin Foundation and TotalEnergies Foundation, theSafety DeliveredProgram supported by The UPS Foundation, and the Hauling Safety program supported by The Toll Group. At the core of these programs, activities are empowering and engaging our youth to be safer road users. Our programs are inherently aligned with the Global Plan and Thailand’s National Road Safety plan.

On October 20th, a ceremony was organized to prepare and celebrate the launch of the 2nd Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 and to share the Global Plan with senior Government officials. Mrs. Sumalee Pratoomnun, AIP Foundation Thailand Senior Project Officer, was honored to hand over the Global Plan to Mr. Wittaya Jansena, Director of Road Safety Integration Unit, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Mr.Wittaya was pleased to receive the Global Plan, that will shape the development of the national road safety action plan in Thailand.

AIP Foundation Thailand was delighted to welcome representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Health, teachers, parents, and leading road safety experts. The ceremony was chaired by Mr. Nikorn Chamnong, Chair of the Asia Pacific Regional Network for Road Safety Legislators and Vice Chairman of the Transport Commission, House of Representatives.

Earlier this year, in September, AIP Foundation Thailand participated the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Road Safety Legislators Annual meeting. The theme for this year’s meeting was Decade of Action for Global Road Safety (2021-2030) – focusing on children and young people. During the meeting, Members of Parliament were provided with updated information on the road traffic burden on children and young people, as well as experiences from the region on translating from law to actions to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries among young people.

Young people are effective advocates for road safety among their peers when they have access to engaging and interactive programs and resources like the Global Plan. Youth are leading the fight towards a safer future for themselves. We need safe and sustainable roads for life BY young people FOR young people.

To read more about the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, please click here.

A message from the United Nations:

In September 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/74/299 “Improving global road safety”, proclaiming the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. WHO and the UN regional commissions, in cooperation with other partners in the UN Road Safety Collaboration, have developed a Global Plan for the Decade of Action, released in October 2021.

The Global Plan aligns with the Stockholm Declaration, by emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to road safety, and calling on continued improvements in the design of roads and vehicles; enhancement of laws and law enforcement; and provision of timely, life-saving emergency care for the injured. The Global Plan also reflects the Stockholm Declaration’s promotion of policies to promote walking, cycling and using public transport as inherently healthy and environmentally sound modes of transport.

Progress made during the previous Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 has laid the foundation for accelerated action in the years ahead. Among achievements are inclusion of road safety on the global health and development agenda, broad dissemination of scientific guidance on what works, strengthening of partnerships and networks, and mobilization of resources. This new Decade of Action provides an opportunity for harnessing the successes and lessons of previous years and building upon them to save more lives.