Did you know?
Why helmets?
We focus on helmets as a road safety intervention because:
What We Do
In recent years, to improve the helmet safety situation, we implemented a number of programs:
Through these programs, we implement:
Case Study: Vietnam
In 2006, before nationwide mandatory helmet laws, motorcycle helmet use in Vietnam was less than 30% on average and just 10% on city roads. In 2007, after years-long advocacy efforts championed by AIP Foundation in partnership with diverse stakeholders, the Vietnamese government enacted a national helmet law mandating helmet use for motorcycle users. Upon passage of the law, helmet use immediately increased to 96%. AIP Foundation estimates that approximately $3.5 billion USD has been saved, and nearly 502,774 road injuries and 15,302 fatalities have been prevented throughout the following decade.
In 2017, we supported the Vietnamese government in organizing a national review conference to conduct a comprehensive assessment of achievements, challenges, and lessons learned after 10 years of implementing the motorcycle helmet law. The meeting established next steps and objectives for improved child helmet use and compliance with the recently issued new helmet standard, TCVN 5756:2017.
AIP Foundation works with governments, civil society, and local communities to create a safer and more walkable environment for children. These efforts are carried out across our program countries through a number of safety programs, including:
These programs apply a proven pedestrian safety approach that utilizes the following components:
Targeted Education – We develop road safety curriculum, school policies, and extracurricular activities designed to teach students about safe walking and driving practices. Parents and teachers also receive training so they can serve as road safety models for students.
Communications for Change – In addition to education and training, we launch public awareness campaigns to promote positive behaviors for both motorists and pedestrians. These campaigns incorporate the use of billboards, TV, radio, social media, and other outreach methods.
Advocacy – Local lawmakers and enforcers play an important role in creating safe walking environments around schools. We build relationships with governments to advocate for progressive legislation and regulatory tools, combined with enforcement.
Road Modifications – Physical modifications to the infrastructure around a school can drastically improve the walkability and safety for pedestrians. Examples of modifications include zebra crossings, sidewalks, speed bumps, and speed limit and traffic signs.
Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation – We utilize the iRAP Star Rating for Schools application to assess and rate the quality of existing school environments. We also administer student knowledge assessments and conduct filmed behavioral observations before and after interventions. The data collected is used as evidence for programs, policy change, and best practices.
Case Study: Model Safe School Zones
In 2009, operating as Safe Kids Vietnam, we began implementation of the Walk This Way pedestrian safety program in Vietnam. Since its inception, the program has grown to include school-based education programs, awareness and advocacy activities, infrastructure improvements, and research aimed at creating safe environments for students on their commute to and from school.
As part of Walk This Way, we launched a pilot safe school zone which included the first push-button crossing signal at a Vietnamese school. Outcomes from the pilot school zone proved extremely successful. After installing the modifications, crosswalk use increased by 32%, and sidewalk use by 34%.
We used these positive results to advocate to the Vietnamese government for building additional safe school zones at 37 Walk This Way program schools. Our success with the safe school zone implementation model also informed the creation of our Slow Zones, Safe Zones program, which implements a set of comprehensive interventions to improve road user behavior in school zones with a focus on speed reduction.
Distractions are categorized into four types:
A driver talking on a mobile phone is four times more likely to be involved in a road crash than one who is not.
Young drivers are more likely to be using a mobile phone while driving than older drivers, and are particularly vulnerable to the effects of distraction given their relative inexperience behind the wheel. An increasing use of mobile phones and motorcycles in Southeast Asia makes distracted driving a severe problem.
The World Health Organization defines driver distraction as “the diversion of attention from activities critical for safe driving towards a competing activity.” To tackle this problem, we are working with young, inexperienced motorcycle drivers to improve their distracted driving behaviors through education and awareness campaigns.
Our Safety Delivered program being implemented in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam works with young, inexperienced motorcycle drivers to teach them of the dangers of distracted driving. Our Driving Skills for Life program works on safe car driving skills with drivers in Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Additionally, our Lifting Safety program works with truck drivers in Vietnam to provide them with safe driving skills.
Our distracted driving programs includes three key components: awareness campaigns, education, and simulations for novice drivers.
Community-focused awareness campaigns Our programs create shareable content with a creative message to stimulate dialogue on the issue of distracted driving/mobile phone use. Campaign messaging is disseminated across television, digital media, traditional media, and community outreach events in order to raise awareness nationwide about the risks of distracted driving.
Peer-based education One-way education is not effective. Instead, we involve local youth ambassadors in every step of the process, including the development of safe driving training manuals and awareness activities. We also organize youth leadership training programs in universities, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to promote road safety awareness about distracted driving among their peers and community members.
Simulation courses for novice drivers
We host car and motorcycle driving trainings for youth and public transportation drivers in order to provide them with the skills to keep their communities safe.
To raise the awareness of the importance of child passenger safety, we implemented the Protect Your Precious, #3500Lives, and Child Car Safety Initiative programs in Vietnam, which include the following components:
Communication campaigns
We developed an awareness raising campaign focused on child passenger safety, and aired the campaign across various media channels including radio and social media.
Awareness events
We hosted launch events in Hanoi with key government stakeholders and car-owning parents at a program school.
Parent workshops
We hosted workshops at schools in Hanoi, Danang & Ho Chi Minh City for car-owning parents to provide key information on how to best protect their children when driving.
AIP Foundation has implemented various programs in Southeast Asia to solve the speeding problem:
Through these programs, we incorporate comprehensive interventions including public awareness campaigns, targeted education, road modifications (such as sidewalks, zebra crossings, traffic lights, speed bumps, etc.), and advocacy for establishing safer speed limits and increasing enforcement.
Case Study: Slow Down to Save Lives
Slow Down to Save Lives is our campaign in Thailand to establish pilot safe speed zones around Bangkok. As part of the campaign, we released a successful video PSA, “Tell Auntie PIA” (“Fong Pa PIA”).
“Tell Auntie PIA” garnered over 1 million views on Facebook and was selected for the 2017 APHA Global Public Health Film Festival. It urged the public to submit comments and images through social media of risky road behaviors that they see and dangerous traffic areas in the city. We presented all comments and images submitted by the public to relevant public works agencies in order to advocate for establishing pilot safe speed zones in Bangkok.
Based on the results of the “Tell Auntie PIA” campaign, in August 2018, the Bangkok Governor agreed to establish a pilot safe speed zone around Yothinburana School in Bang Sue District, Bangkok that would reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h from 80 km/h. As of February 2019, the new laws have gone into effect and 37 of Thailand’s 77 provinces have followed suit with similar speed limits in certain areas.
Road crashes cost developing economies, on average, 3-5% of their annual GDP.
AIP Foundation has developed expertise with designing and delivering targeted trainings to professional drivers through our Lifting Safety in Vietnam and our garment factory worker initiative in Cambodia. In each program, we worked directly with drivers, government officials, and road safety experts to analyze drivers’ needs and create education and training materials to improve their skills and ultimately prevent road crashes from happening.
We have also worked with the National Traffic Safety Committee and relevant road safety stakeholders in Vietnam to use the truck driver handbooks for government-directed truck driving skills programs.
Case Study: Garment Factory Workers in Cambodia
In Cambodia, an estimated 600-700,000 workers are directly employed in the garment and footwear sector— 80% of these workers are female.
In 2017, we worked with partners to establish the Garment and Footwear Sector Road Safety strategy, which provides a roadmap to improve the commute for workers through four strategic objectives:
Using the strategy as a road map, international garment and footwear brands and buyers are supporting a one-year pilot program to be delivered at five factories, currently in the process of expanding. Key program activities include:
Developing and delivering training of trainers courses for national technical officials and factory representatives.
