Sweden contributes to promoting school safety for Vietnamese children

On November 21, the Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi, in coordination with the People's Committee of Cau Giay District and the Department of Education and Training of Cau Giay District, presented more than 1,000 helmets to primary and secondary school students at Nam Trung Yen Primary School, Cau Giay District, Hanoi.

At this event, the organizers called for a strong response from the community, parents and adults in Vietnam to always wear helmets for their children when participating in traffic by motorbike and electric bicycle.

The activity attracts students to participate. (Source: Embassy of Sweden in Vietnam)

This activity is part of a series of events celebrating the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sweden and Vietnam (1969-2024).

In his opening remarks, Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Johan Ndisi said: "Sweden is one of the world's leading countries in traffic safety.

Vision Zero with the goal of zero deaths and serious injuries has achieved many successful results because it has created momentum to move from policy and vision into concrete actions.

When an accident occurs, the human body can only withstand a certain amount of force from the outside, and children's bodies are even weaker than adults.

That is why it is so important for children to wear helmets whenever they ride a motorbike or electric bicycle. Parents and adults also need to set an example by always wearing helmets when participating in traffic."

The Vision Zero approach to road safety, originating in Sweden, aims for zero deaths or serious injuries on the roads.

The program focuses on designing transportation systems that accommodate human vulnerability and ensure that even if errors occur, they do not result in fatal consequences. The goal is to prevent any traffic accidents that result in child fatalities.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), road traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death and injury in Vietnam, especially among young children.

The Traffic Safety Law requires the wearing of helmets for drivers and passengers on motorbikes, but does not require children under the age of 6 to comply. The use of substandard helmets is a concern because it can cause adverse effects in the event of an accident.

The Swedish Embassy wants to raise awareness and promote the proper use of helmets to ensure the safety of Vietnamese people, especially children.

Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Johan Ndisi interacted with students at the event. (Source: Embassy of Sweden in Vietnam)

Ambassador Johan Ndisi added: “Motorbikes are the main means of transport in Hanoi and across Vietnam, and helmets are a simple but very important and effective protection for both children and adults. In the event of an accident, wearing a quality and properly fitted helmet can save lives.

We are delighted to have the cooperation of Swedish multinational companies such as ABB, AstraZeneca, Atlas Copco, Electrolux, Ericsson, Hestra, Hitachi Energy, IKEA, Niteco, Oriflame, Polarium, SKF, Tetra Pak and Volvo to collectively contribute to a safer future for Vietnamese children."

In Vietnam, despite many efforts to improve traffic safety, motorcycle accidents remain a concern, with high rates of death and injury. Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents aged 5-29.

In the first half of 2024, Vietnam recorded more than 12,300 traffic accidents, up nearly 1,850 from the previous year. However, the number of deaths fell by more than 700 from more than 5,250 reported deaths. The number of injuries also increased, with nearly 9,600.

Most accidents occur on the road, with many serious accidents recorded. Death and injury from traffic accidents are not only a personal tragedy but also an economic burden on society. The National Traffic Safety Committee has estimated that Vietnam loses about 4.9 billion USD each year due to traffic accidents.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims – a United Nations international day of action in November, is a timely reminder of the importance of our efforts to protect children and prevent future tragedies.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thuy-dien-gop-suc-tuyen-truyen-an-toan-den-truong-cho-tre-em-viet-nam-294579.html