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Global Newsletter November 2015
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Dear Friends and Supporters,
This month, AIP Foundation took part in the 2nd Global High Level Conference on Road Safety in Brasilia, which brought together over 2,200 delegates from more than 110 countries to exchange information and experiences on best practices in road safety, to review progress in implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety, and to contribute to the “Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety” which offers renewed impetus and concrete directions for governments as they strive to achieve the targets outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Participating in the Conference was a humbling and invigorating experience and allowed the road safety community to refocus energy to achieving the goals set forth by the Decade of Action. We also presented at the Conference of ASEAN Road Safety 2015 in Kuala Lumpur and won a best paper award at the conference, a true honor for AIP Foundation.
Additionally, helmet donations in Vietnam marked the occasion of Teacher’s Day, Cambodia is gearing up to begin supporting enforcement of the passenger helmet law, and projects in Thailand have revealed positive evaluation results.
Finally, we observed World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims on November 15th. Our hearts are heavy as we remember those lost, but we are inspired and driven to continue our work towards safer roads worldwide.
Please see below to read more on AIP Foundation’s activities and achievements throughout the month.
Kind regards,
Mirjam Sidik
CEO, AIP Foundation
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Photo of the month
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U.S. graduate students pose in front of a project school and support the #SaveKidsLives campaign
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In Cambodia, a group of U.S. graduate students visited the AIP Foundation office and a project school in Phnom Penh on a study tour. The students supported the ‘Child Declaration for Road Safety’ by signing for the #SaveKidsLives campaign.
Have a relevant road safety photo? Tag AIP Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, or on Instagram (@makingroadssafe) for a chance to have your photo featured here!
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AIP Foundation included in the 2015 Secretary-General Report issued worldwide by the UN General Assembly Conference Services
1 November, 2015
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Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon presents the report which describes the activities and achievements by the road safety community
Credit: www.who.int
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The 2015 Secretary-General Report has been issued worldwide by the UN General Assembly Conference Services. The report, prepared by the World Health Organization, in cooperation with the United Nations regional commissions and other partners of the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration, provides an updated description of activities and achievements by the global road safety community in pursuance of the objectives of the Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020) since the previous report. It also contains recommendations to the Assembly for achieving the goals of the Decade.
AIP Foundation and our work are featured at Pillar 4, Safer Road Users, Article 44 Page 12. You can read the report here.
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#SaveKidsLives reaches 1 million signatures!
11 November, 2015
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The #SaveKidsLives campaign calls upon world leaders to take action on road safety
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This month, #SaveKidsLives achieved their recent target of gathering 1,000,000 signatures for their Child Declaration on Road Safety.
The campaign started earlier this year with a modest goal of 100,000 signatures. This was quickly exceeded as the campaign’s reach grew wider and wider. Now, 1 million people have signed the declaration to demand action on road safety for children.
We would like to thank our contributors who have taken part in the #SaveKidsLives campaign!
At the 2nd Global High Level Conference on Road Safety in Brasilia, children handed over the 1 million signatures to our world leaders. Together, we will call upon them to commit to road safety, so that life saving measures can be put in place on the roads around the world.
Read more about this significant milestone on the official #SaveKidsLives website here.
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Related News: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon joins launch of new road safety High Level Panel
12 November, 2015 – New York City, United States
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Ban Ki-Moon and FIA President Jean Todt attend the High Level Panel launch
Credit: www.fiafoundation.org
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Mr. Ban joined FIA President Jean Todt and members of the High Level Panel at the launch event at United Nations headquarters in New York. The initiative brings together senior figures from business, financial institutions, and public administrations, supported by a body of celebrity ambassadors. The panel aims to engage both the public and the private sectors to raise funding and political awareness in response to the road safety crisis, and to mobilize new support for the goals of the Decade of Action and for the road safety targets included in the Sustainable Development Goals. The panel members will explore the possibility of innovative financing measures, including pushing for the creation of a UN Road Safety Fund, which will finance road safety programs.
At the meeting Ban Ki-Moon called for greater efforts to reduce global road traffic casualties, and said he hoped that the Brasilia High Level Conference would achieve significant results and momentum. He urged support for the Decade of Action Global Plan, and supported calls for a new UN Fund for Road Safety.
Read the full article to see who the High Level Panel includes.
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AIP Foundation participates in the 2nd Global High Level Conference on Road Safety
18 – 19 November, 2015 – Brasilia, Brazil
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Mirjam Sidik, CEO and Pagna Kim, Cambodia Country Director with the Cambodian delegation
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AIP Foundation participated in the 2nd Global High-Level Conference on Road Safety through a resolution entitled “Improving Global Road Safety”. The Conference brought together over 2,200 delegates from more than 110 countries, including 70 Ministers of Transport, Health, and Interior; senior officials from United Nations agencies; representatives of civil society; and business leaders.
The Conference was an opportunity for Member States to exchange information and experiences on best practices in road safety. Delegates reviewed progress in implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 and discussed how to achieve its stated goal. It is a unique moment to bring a new impetus to the Decade of Action at its mid-point – a time to reaffirm commitments and propose new strategies for the next five years, in light of the scenario that should emerge from discussions on the new Sustainable Development Goals.
Read more about Conference here.
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AIP Foundation presents at the Conference of ASEAN Road Safety 2015 (CARS2015)
5 November, 2015 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Nuong Nguyen of AIP Foundation presents at the CARS2015 Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Nuong Nguyen, Vietnam Program Director at AIP Foundation, presented at the Conference of ASEAN Road Safety 2015 (CARS2015) this month. Nuong presented on Vietnam's National Action Plan to increase helmet use among child motorcycle passengers. At the Conference, a paper submitted by AIP Foundation staff won the Best Paper Award out of 63 papers submitted for the publication “Measuring the Effectiveness of Vietnam’s National Action Plan to Increase Child Helmet Use in Three Major Cities.”
This inaugural conference brought together policymakers, scientists, researchers, practitioners, law enforcers, academics, and a wide range of public and private organizations from the region with an interest in the future of road safety.
Over 250 key players in road safety within the Southeast Asia region as well as in the Asia Pacific region attended the conference.
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UPS hosts “I Love Helmets” Family Day event to raise awareness about road safety
7 November, 2015 – Ho Chi Minh City
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Students play games to learn about the importance of helmet use
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With support from The UPS Foundation, AIP Foundation held a road safety event with the theme, “I Love Helmets” at Tan Tuc Primary School in Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. The school is located near Trung Luong Highway, a high-risk traffic area in Ho Chi Minh City, where students face dangers on their daily commute.
The event gathered more than 1,500 students, 200 parents, teachers from primary and junior schools, and representatives from The UPS Foundation and Traffic Safety Committee (TSC). Among the participants were representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City TSC and Jeff McLean, Managing Director of UPS Vietnam. At the event, students and parents participated in several road safety activities that included painting, a fashion show, interactive games, and a road safety knowledge competition in order to promote child helmet use.
Read more here and view the event photos here.
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AIG celebrates Teacher’s Day by donating 820 quality helmets to students and teachers
17 November, 2015 – Ho Chi Minh City
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Tan Hiep students commute daily on dangerous roads, helmets can help them stay protected
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In honor of Teacher’s Day, AIP Foundation delivered 820 high-quality helmets to students and teachers at Tan Hiep Primary School. This event, possible thanks to support from AIG, an American multinational insurance company, commemorated the 20th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam. This event is the third helmet handover event AIG has sponsored for at-risk school children and teachers. Thus far, AIG has provided 3,036 quality helmets to children and teachers throughout Vietnam.
Students, teachers, and representatives from AIG, the Traffic Safety Committee (TSC), and AIP Foundation attended the event. Among the attendees were Rena Bitter, U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City and Susan E. Loftus, AIG CEO and General Manager at AIG Vietnam.
More information can be found here. To view more photos, click here.
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Opinion Piece: Vietnam’s jam-packed streets are about to get worse
9 November, 2015
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Packed streets in Vietnam may get more congested with increasingly affordable vehicles
Credit: Reuters
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The Vietnamese government has announced plans to cut automobile tariffs, making cars much more affordable in a country where urban traffic is famously anarchic.
Automobile taxes and registration fees currently add up to almost half of the retail value of cars in Vietnam, which makes their ownership a luxury. Since major cities in the country do not have a subway or tram system, most citizens take the bus or ride a bike.
The streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are chaotic, with lax traffic control and overcrowded pavements—adding more vehicles may prove to add traffic congestion. The transport department is planning to narrow sidewalks to give vehicles more space, potentially increasing pedestrian vulnerability and threatening their safety.
Read more here.
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Stakeholders from across Phnom Penh discuss passenger helmet enforcement
4-17 November, 2015 – Phnom Penh
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Various stakeholders gather to discuss potential improvements to the
“Head Safe. Helmet On.” project
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Various stakeholders gathered to discuss potential improvements to the
“Head Safe. Helmet On.” (HSHO) project. AIP Foundation held its second district-wide stakeholder workshops as part of the
HSHO project. The purpose of the workshops was to discuss actions to support the enforcement of the passenger helmet law, including children, scheduled to begin January 1st, 2016.
The workshops gathered approximately 58 participants including representatives from the private sector, the Department of Transport, the Department of Education, Youth, and Sport, the Directors of target schools, the commune chief, clerk, and council members, the District Provincial Advisor, and the media. At the meetings, stakeholders discussed the project’s recent progress, challenges faced thus far, and recommendations for the second year of the initiative. AIP Foundation received critical feedback from the community to consider for the second year of implementation.
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Manulife holds road safety and helmet use training for teachers at Sothearos Primary School
19 November, 2015 – Phnom Penh
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Teachers are trained on promoting helmet use among their students
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Supported by Manulife (Cambodia) Plc, teachers at Sothearos Primary School participated in vital road safety training that focused on motorcycle helmet use.
38 teachers joined a road safety training that focused on the benefits of correct helmet use for their families and community, highlighting that an active role by teachers is required to ensure that their students wear helmets every time they travel by bicycle and motorcycle. The teachers shared their experiences and techniques on how to encourage students to always wear their helmets. At the conclusion of the training, teachers committed to putting helmets on their students, no matter the distance or travel time, when riding on a motorcycle.
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Opinion Piece: Quick To Criticize, Drivers Forget They Have a Role in Snarled Traffic
4 November, 2015 – Phnom Penh
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Chaotic traffic in Phnom Penh is a challenge to traffic police
Credit: www.blogs.usembassy.gov
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Drivers on Cambodia’s chaotic streets are often quick to criticize the traffic police, who seem unable to bring things under control. However, the drivers themselves forget that poor driving and the ignoring of traffic laws lead to so many snarls.
The government has sought to break up traffic congestion through new laws, more roads, traffic lights, security cameras at major intersections and even the presence of youth volunteers on weekends. Yet drivers seem unwilling to cooperate. And while many complain that the police or government is to blame, many overlook the roles of drivers themselves.
On any day in Phnom Penh, you can see drivers who speed up when lights turn yellow, or push forward into congestion. Three-wheeled tuk-tuks take up space in the motorcycle lanes, and often side roads are used by businesses or for parking. All of this jams traffic and leads to worse congestion.
Read the full article here.
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Street Wise, Chevron sponsored project, midterm review yields positive results
3 November, 2015 – Songkhla Province
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A thorough review of program activities revealed positive impact on the target communities
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In September, AIP Foundation Thailand Program Officer Anamika Tangsakulnurak and a Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist from Mahidol University conducted midterm monitoring and evaluation analysis at 5 schools in Singhanakhon from the 14th to 17th. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the Chevron-sponsored
Street Wise project’s implementation thus far. Helmet observations, pedestrian observations, in-depth interviews with school directors and focus group discussions with teachers aided in evaluating program activities. Evaluation results were presented to stakeholders on 3rd November. According to the assessment, the helmet wearing rate of students in Singhanakhon increased from 3% in 2014 to 33% after officially launching the project in July 2015.
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Legal Development Program holds road safety advocacy workshop
12–13 November, 2015 – Bangkok
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Workshop participants learn about advocacy to spur action on road safety
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Legal Development Program's Induction and Road Safety Advocacy Workshop was held at The Sukosol Hotel and was organized by AIP Foundation in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety.
The Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) 2015-2019 seeks to reduce fatalities and injuries from road traffic crashes in low- and middle-income countries and cities by strengthening road safety legislation at the national level and implementing proven road safety interventions at the city level. The WHO will contribute to this new program in five countries, including Thailand, by providing technical support to assess and revise current legislation; building capacities of select lawyers on advocating for evidence-based laws and regulations; engaging with journalists with a view to their writing more in-depth road safety stories focused on change and solutions; and developing normative documents reflecting the above efforts.
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AIP Foundation Thailand Chairperson interviewed by Voice TV
12 November, 2015 – Bangkok
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AIP Foundation Thailand Chairperson is interviewed about road safety
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Ratanawadee H. Winther, Chairperson of AIP Foundation Thailand was interviewed by Voice TV (Thailand Broadcast Television) on road safety in Thailand and AIP Foundation’s initiatives to improve it.
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Related News: Thai university students raise road safety awareness with harrowing video compilation
5 November, 2015 – Bangkok
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Motorists will oftentimes not stop at crosswalks, putting pedestrians at risk
Credit: Stop for Step
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The explicit road safety video below, compiled by business students at Bangkok’s Kasetsart University, may upset some viewers. Nevertheless, the compilation produced by the ‘Stop for Step’ road safety campaign is making its mark, having already gathered a million views on Facebook.
The ‘Stop for Step’ campaign focuses on poor driver behavior at pedestrian crossings throughout Thailand. Thai motorists often won’t stop at crosswalks, even if faced with a red light. This video – not an easy watch – reveals the disastrous consequences.
Read the full article here.
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Primary school invites AIP Foundation to give students a road safety lesson
13 November, 2015 – Chengdu Province
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Children learn about road safety through games and fun lessons
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The AIP Foundation China team went to Qingyang Experimental Middle School to give 42 Grade 1 students a road safety lesson. The class teaches students safe pedestrian practices through group discussion and activities. Through games and fun lessons, the students learn how to stay safe on their commutes to and from school.
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150 motorcycle drivers are surveyed about helmet use habits
21 November, 2015 – Kai County
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A street-based investigation helps AIP Foundation gauge motorcycle driver habits to better tailor future interventions
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Walk Wise team, sponsored by Chevron, worked with Kai County Youth League Volunteers to conduct an investigation of helmet use among motorcycle drivers. To calculate the baseline situation of helmet use of motorcycle drivers in Kai County, the AIP Foundation China team worked with the local Youth League to recruit 10 volunteers to conduct the survey. This survey aims to get information about motorcycle drivers such as when they began driving motorcycles, how often they wear a helmet, the reason for why they do or do not wear a helmet, and the quality of the helmet they use.
Motorcycle drivers were actively responding during the activity and each motorcycle driver that participated received a voucher with which he or she could get a free helmet on National Road Safety Day on 2 December, 2015.
Through the investigation, basic information on helmet use in Kai County was obtained; this information will be used to guide the next helmet intervention programs.
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Walk Wise project schools have begun their road safety classes
25 November, 2015 – Kai County
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Teachers keep children interested in road safety lessons through fun games and activities
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Walk Wise Phase 4 project schools have begun road safety curriculum implementation for the 2015-2016 school year. The
Walk Wise program team visited Heyan Primary School; the teachers were excited to teach the road safety class to help keep children safe. Teachers make the classes interesting through games to learn important skills.
The school is near a main road, which has a lot of traffic and where there is no zebra crossing for pedestrians. It is a dangerous area, so the road safety classes are necessary for students to learn how to stay safe on the road.
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