HCM CITY —A “Fun with Traffic Safety” extracurricular day to mark the tenth anniversary of Việt Nam’s national helmet law on December 15 was held at Tiền Phong Primary School in Hà Nội.

Over 1,000 students, teachers, and staff joined distinguished guests and participants with extracurricular activities such as a helmet handover, helmet sculpture painting, a helmet wearing contest, and a special performance by the National Vietnam Circus. The students participated in a flash mob dance to celebrate.

Since implementing the national helmet law, Việt Nam has saved an estimated US$3.5 billion in medical costs and lost output, and an estimated 500,000 head injuries and 15,000 fatalities have been prevented, according to National Traffic Safety Committee.

Attendees also marked ten years of the national helmet law by looking to the past and acknowledging those who had provided crucial support.

The day was held by the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation and FIA Foundation, which is an independent UK registered charity which supports an international programme of activities promoting road safety, the environment and sustainable mobility.

The Vietnam Helmet Wearing Coalition (VHWC) received special recognition for their contributions to building support for the law and pushing it to the forefront of public discourse.

The VHWC, led by AIP Foundation, provided funding and in-kind support for a landmark public awareness campaign, Wear a helmet. There are no excuses, prior to the passage of the national helmet law.

“After 10 years of implementing the national helmet law, we have achieved significant success,” Dr. Khuất Việt Hùng, Vice Chairman of National Traffic Safety Committee said, adding that there is still a long journey ahead; the helmet wearing rate for children aged 6 years old and above remains low.

“When we have strong enforcement programmes, the rate of children wearing helmets increases to 50-60 per cent. Without enforcement, the rate stays at 30-40 per cent. This is our challenge as well as our mission for the near future,” he said .—VNS