HÀ NỘI — About 1,000 helmets were distributed to pupils at a public school in Hà Nội on Thursday.

Part of the ‘Helmet for Kids’ programme run by the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation in Việt Nam, the helmets were given to pupils at Ba Đình Elementary School to raise awareness of road safety among the children and their parents.

The ceremony took place at the school with the participation of representatives from AIP and the Embassy of Sweden in Việt Nam.

At the event, the organisers called for stronger public awareness regarding traffic safety and urged adults to put helmets on their children whenever they travel on motorbikes.

Swedish Ambassador in Việt Nam Pereric Högberg said: “I hear stories all the time that the Vietnamese are concerned about safety, especially traffic safety.

“It is not cool to be on a bike without a helmet and a good helmet is simply life-saving.

“Let us communicate this widely and set a good example for our family members and friends, and always wear a standard helmet when travelling on a two-wheel vehicle.”

Despite Government efforts to reinforce helmet wearing among traffic participants, helmet use among children remains low in Việt Nam, said Greig Craft, president of AIP Foundation.

Only 20-30 per cent of children in the country’s parents put helmets on them when travelling, according to statistics revealed by the National Traffic Safety Committee in September. 

Road safety is a major public issue in Việt Nam. About 22,000 people lose their lives and 453,000 suffer injuries due to road crashes each year in the country, according to AIP.

Motorcyclists account for some 59 per cent of the road traffic collisions nationwide, among whom 78 per cent suffer from head injuries. — VNS