Myanmar - March 15, 2013

ARRB Group, one of Australia’s most trusted advisors regarding road safety technical input, is launching the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation’s Helmets for Kids program at Ai Quoc Primary School on March 15, 2013. 630 students and 38 teachers will receive helmets in a ceremony attended by road safety expert Paul Hillier, a National Technical Leader at ARRB.

Ai Quoc Primary School is located in Hai Duong City, along National Road 5 and near the railroad. Proximity to this road, low helmet use rates, and weak traffic infrastructure create a dangerous environment for the students, among whom 90 percent travel to and from school by motorcycle or bicycle.

The helmets were handed over to the students at a ceremony attended by 700 people, including parents, local authorities, and partners. ARRB Group’s sponsorship also includes helmet observations, teacher training, crash monitoring, extracurricular activities, and communication with students’ parents to reinforce their understanding of helmet use and encourage them to put helmets on their children.

Mr. Hillier will also participate in a half-day workshop at the Ministry of Transport in Hanoi with Le Minh Chau, Deputy Director of the Traffic Safety Department. The workshop will focus on Vietnam’s national road safety strategies; Mr. Hillier’s experience Australia across the 4E’s of road safety (Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Encouragement);, and specific topics including helmet use, legislation, and raising public awareness.

Last month, ARRB sponsored Helmets for Kids at Phnom Dil Primary School in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for the second year, with a donation of 187 new helmets to first-year students and those whose first helmet was damaged.