HO CHI MINH City, Vietnam - May 11, 2013

The Chief Secretariat of Vietnam’s National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) and the Deputy Directory of the Ministry of Security joined Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) local authorities for a “Long Short Walk” on the morning of May 11 to raise awareness of the need for improved pedestrian safety, the theme of the United Nations’ second Global Road Safety Week from May 6-12, 2013.

According to the World Health Organization, pedestrians account for nearly one quarter of all road traffic fatalities. It is for this reason that more than 1,000 participants, including AIP Foundation, local authorities, secondary school students, FedEx Express volunteers, and community members, took to Ho Chi Minh City’s main downtown streets to demand action from their local, national, and global leaders. Simple solutions, such as installing pedestrian walkways and improving traffic signals, significantly reduce the risk faced by people walking along the road.

The city government showed support from all sectors with direct engagement by the Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training (DoET) and Deputy Director of the Traffic Safety Committee, as well as representatives from the People’s Committee and the Traffic Police.

This “Short Walk” is one of many around the world to advocate for the rights of pedestrians to be recognized on the road, in support of UN Global Road Safety Week, which ends tomorrow. AIP Foundation and other local walk organizers will contribute their photos and videos to be combined into one “Long Walk,” documenting the streets pedestrians travel all across the world.