The National Traffic Safety Committee and the World Health Organization have today launched a new national social marketing campaign drawing further public attention to two major risk factors for road traffic injury in Viet Nam; drink-driving and the wearing of quality helmets by motorcycle riders and passengers.
This campaign is implemented as part of the ongoing Road Safety in Ten Countries (RS10) program, a global road safety initiative funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies supporting the Government of Viet Nam in line with Resolution 88 on strengthening of implementation of key measures for road safety.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep – Standing Vice Chairman of the NTSC said "Prevention of drink-driving and strengthening the implementation of mandatory helmet wearing, especially the use of standardized and correctly fastened helmets are key national road safety priority in the road safety year of 2012 and the years to come”.
These two messages are the result of a close collaboration between WHO, NTSC and other agencies highlighting the risks of drink driving and wearing substandard helmets.
"The quality construction of a motorcycle helmet is crucial to its ability to prevent head injuries in the event of a crash. In fact, wearing a quality helmet, properly fastened is one of the most effective road safety interventions known, showing reductions in the risk of death and serious head injuries by 42% and 69% respectively” WHO Representative to Viet Nam, Dr Takeshi Kasai said.
“Results of recent surveys and testing have shown that more than 80% of helmets being worn by motorcycle riders do not pass Viet Nam’s national quality standards”.
Through these 2 campaigns, WHO and NTSC want to make it very clear that drink driving and wearing substandard helmets can have serious or even fatal consequences.
“WHO highly values the commitment of the Government towards tackling drink-driving and strengthening helmet quality and we look forward to continuing our strong cooperation with national and provincial stakeholders, particularly the NTSC to achieve our common goal of saving lives on Viet Nam's roads” concluded Dr Kasai.
The social marketing campaign commences today and will be broadcast nationally, over the next three months.