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Global Newsletter August 2016 |
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Dear Friends and Supporters, As the summer holiday draws to a close, AIP Foundation is gearing up for another exciting year of education and awareness programs at schools throughout our program countries. Our China team has stayed busy training volunteers at local partner organizations in Kai County to administer community outreach events. In Cambodia, “Agents for Change,” supported by FIA Foundation, has held an array of programs for the media. We have been working with news editors and journalists to hone their road safety reporting skills. A group of reporters even traveled to Ho Chi Minh City to meet with Vietnamese road safety officials and participate in a study tour. Road safety has continued to make waves in the international community, and our partner organizations have been at the forefront of these developments. The World Health Organization recently named Michael Bloomberg the Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases, which includes road safety fatalities and injuries. We look forward to another year of educating students and families on the importance of safe road practices. Read on to learn more about our recent progress and news from around the globe. Kind regards, Mirjam Sidik
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Global |
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Vietnam |
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Cambodia |
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Thailand |
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China |
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Employment Opportunities
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Global |
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Photo of the month – In Phnom Penh, an artist confronts the city’s deadly traffic
Source: Hyperallergic, 10 August, 2016. In Phnom Penh, cars drive like motorcycles, motorcycles drive between lanes and on sidewalks, and even the police don’t seem to care much about traffic lights. The apt and often-used term to describe the city’s traffic is the slang oral-only version of “រញ៉េរញ៉ៃ” (pronounced “nyeay nyeye”), which means messy or disorganized. This disorder leads to congestion, delays, and death. An ability to bribe your way out of anything and a lax attitude for drinking and driving compounds these issues significantly. Phnom Penh-based artist Meas Sokhorn wanted to confront this problem, one that all too many seem to be comfortable passively accepting. When you first encounter Sokhorn’s installation Lane (2016) at the Asia Foundation’s Community Art Gallery in central Phnom Penh, you sense that nyeay nyeye. The main feature of the installation is a jumbled mass of tubes, painted entirely green, that represents the deadly “always go” attitude of city drivers. Stepping back, the form’s twisted contours become suggestive of a motorcycle or a handlebar. In the cup holder we find a glass filled with beer caps. The rearview mirror is a broken TV, face-down on the ground, useless. Read the full article here. |
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Related News: Halve traffic accident deaths and injuries by 2020 – can it be done?
Source: The Guardian, 1 August, 2016. “If you read any newspaper in India, across Africa or Southeast Asia, you regularly see big stories about crashes involving multiple casualties,” says Saul Billingsley. “There’s awareness that these things are happening [in developing countries] but not an awareness of how to deal with it.” Some 90% of the 1.25 million deaths caused by road crashes each year occur in developing countries. Road injuries are the leading cause of death among people aged between 15 and 29, and the ninth leading cause of death overall, according to the World Health Organization. These are big numbers, and the issue goes beyond the immediate impact. Every year, 1 million children are either killed or seriously injured in road crashes, and miss out on an education. If a parent is injured or killed, children often have to drop out of school to look after them or find a way to earn money. And there is a strain on health systems that are already under pressure, says Billingsley, director of the FIA Foundation, a global road safety charity. Globally, the development sector has been slow to recognize road safety as an issue. “I’ve always described it as a hidden epidemic,” says Kevin Watkins, executive director of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). “If you ask people working in international development or infrastructure planning whether they’re aware of the level of road traffic injuries and the associated social and economic costs, there is an incredibly low level of awareness.” Read the full article here. |
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Related news: Pokemon Go! Is catching Pokemon the new distraction on the road?
Source: Youth for Road Safety (YOURS), 15 August, 2016 Playing the popular game Pokémon GO has made some people lax about their personal safety, according to police around the world. Many local authorities have begun asking people playing the augmented reality game to look while they are crossing the road - or catching that Jigglypuff might just end up costing a life. The game encourages people to 'switch between the virtual world and the real world' using their smartphones in the real world, which could potentially cause danger if people are not paying attention to the real world...and the dangers of the road. Read the full article here. |
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Related news: World Health Organization names Michael Bloomberg Global Ambassador on noncommunicable diseases
Source: UN News Center, 17 August, 2016 The World Health Organization (WHO) today named Michael R. Bloomberg, former New York City mayor and philanthropist, as its Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). These diseases, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, and injuries [which includes road safety] are responsible for 43 million deaths each year – almost 80% of all deaths worldwide, according to a news release from the United Nations health agency. “I am honored to become WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and excited about the possibilities that are within our reach,” said Mr. Bloomberg, noting that cities and countries around the world are making great progress reducing preventable, premature deaths. Read the full article here. |
Vietnam |
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Road safety expert from India meets with AIP Foundation on behalf of the United Nations
Dr. Rohit Baluja, a road safety expert from India, met with AIP Foundation staff as part of extensive research he is completing on the safety of powered two-wheel vehicles in Southeast Asia. The project is being led by the Working Party on Road Safety at the United Nations, and is supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE). Before coming to Vietnam, he met with universities, governments, and nonprofits in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Dr. Baluja’ s research is focusing on the environments vehicles operate in, road user conditions, apparel including helmets, the vehicles themselves, and legislation addressing motorcycle usage. Dr. Baluja is President of the IRTE, a road safety non-profit organization in Delhi, and the Director of the College of Traffic Management. The college offers training courses in all domains of traffic management by educating traffic police, highway engineers, and driver trainers in an effort to build the capacities of governmental and non-governmental organizations in making roads safer for all users. |
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Related news: Vietnam loses 2.5% of GDP from road crashes
Source: VietnamNet, 6 August, 2016 Khuat Viet Hung, standing deputy chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee, made these observations while speaking at the signing ceremony for co-operation between the National Traffic Safety Committee and the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers. By comparison the country’s growth was more than 6% of the GDP last year. The problem of road crashes in the country remains complicated, according to the official. On average, 24 people die in road crashes and 60 people are injured every day. Road crashes are a serious global problem and a great challenge for the governments of different countries around the world, including Vietnam. Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that every year, road crashes kill 1.25 million worldwide and injure another 50 million. WHO has recommended that if countries did not have drastic measures in place, by 2020 as many as 1.9 million people would die every year in road crashes, and millions others would be injured. Read the full article here. |
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Related news: Saigon’s Traffic Nightmare - Challenges and Potential Solutions
Source: Saigoneer, 18 August, 2016. On one particularly horrific Monday evening last summer, I wound up in a traffic jam. Bounding over the bridge between District 1 and Phu Nhuan, my jaw dropped as I found a sea of vehicles on the other side. For a solid half-hour, my lungs took in the exhaust fumes of idling traffic, the din of engines thrummed around me and vehicles, packed storefront to storefront, occupied so much space the road disappeared. At one point, I watched a Saigon Bus drive down the sidewalk, brushing the shop signs as it passed. If you’re reading this in Saigon, none of the above comes as a surprise. Take a drive during rush hour and everyone is stuck in traffic, perfecting the art of waiting: waiting for the light to turn, for the roads to clear, for four-wheeled vehicles to stop blocking the motorbike lane, and most of all, for a solution to the madness. Read the full article here. |
Cambodia |
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Helmets for Families educates hundreds of students, community members on new road safety laws
Helmets for Families, a program supported by Manulife Cambodia, engaged hundreds of students and families during both school and community events affiliated with the Sothearos Primary School in Phnom Penh. The events aimed to educate attendees on the mandatory helmet law that authorities began enforcing in Cambodia in January 2016. During the extracurricular activities at the school, about 200 children participated in activities such as quizzes and drawing contests. At the community events, Student Council Volunteers, who were selected and trained by AIP Foundation, distributed road safety education materials. Cambodia annually loses an estimated 2% of its GDP due to road crashes. From 2011-2013, only about 6% of motorcycle passengers and 64% of drivers wore helmets. Helmets for Families raises awareness of and educates communities on the importance of practicing safe road behaviors. |
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Cambodian journalists awarded for being road safety reporting role models
AIP Foundation, in collaboration with FIA Foundation as part of the “Agents for Change” program, honored seven Cambodian journalists at the Journalist Awards for Excellence in Road Safety Media for their reporting, which focused on helmet use in the country. Twenty journalists applied and submitted projects that were published on print and online media, as well as on television and radio outlets. “The reporting done by both the applicants and winners showcases the importance of using the media to enforce legislative changes, especially in light of the mandatory helmet law that went into effect in January of this year,” H.E Khiev Kahnarith, of the Ministry of Information, said. “I am hopeful for how we as the government can collaborate with journalists to make our country’s roads safer for all.” The winners were selected by a combination of official scores from judges, as well as online engagement from the public via social media and traditional media channels. The radio portion of the competition attracted 10,000 listeners. Some Facebook posts received nearly 200 likes or more than 50 shares. For more information read the press release here. |
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Editors collaborate about road safety reporting best practices, legislation
Editors from leading Cambodian news outlets learned about road safety reporting and national legislative initiatives during a forum as part of the “Agents for Change” program, which is supported by FIA Foundation. Moderators provided attendees with reliable information sources, best practices, and encouraged them to use innovative angles when reporting on the subject and to publish images that reinforce proper helmet use. The editors were also joined by government officials who updated them on the current state of legislation and law enforcement in Cambodia. From 2011-2013, it was estimated that only 64% of motorcycle drivers wore helmets. In 2015, the World Health Organization estimated that Cambodia loses 2% of its GDP due to road crashes. The media plays a critical role in influencing the public’s behavior, and the event helped editors recognize the power they hold when discussing this pressing national issue. For more information on the forum read the press release here. |
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Award-winning Cambodian journalists meet with road safety experts in Ho Chi Minh City
The seven recipients of the recent Journalist Awards for Excellence in Road Safety Media were joined by Cambodian government officials to exchange ideas with Vietnamese road safety experts at a collaborative study tour in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Those in attendance shared their experiences on reporting and enforcing motorcycle helmet laws, particularly for passengers and children, and discussed how to use the media to promote road safety. The event was part of the “Agents for Change” program in partnership with FIA Foundation. The study tour took place over three days at multiple venues across the city, including the Department of Road Safety and the Department of Police Enforcement. For more information on the study tour read the press release here. |
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Related news: Ineffective laws leave Cambodia's roads unsafe
Despite government efforts to improve road safety, road crashes continue to cause a high rate of deaths and significant financial loss in Cambodia. What can be done to cut down on the number of crashes? Cambodia has seen a dramatic rise in the number of motor vehicles on its streets in recent years. This increase has been accompanied by a jump in road crashes, many of which result in deaths and serious injuries. In 2015, there were 4,595 crashes reported in Cambodia, which together killed 2,265 people - an increase of 117 from the year before - and severely injured more than 4,400. Traffic laws and regulations, lacking proper implementation, have done little to slow the loss of life. Cambodia also incurs a significant financial cost every year as a result of poor road safety. The country lost $337 million in 2013 as a result of the accidents, the nongovernmental organization Handicap International estimated. This is why many experts and international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) are calling on rapidly motorizing low and middle income countries like Cambodia to ensure the effective implementation of the laws and standards. Read the full article here. |
Thailand |
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2,500 students, faculty engage in road safety extracurricular activities supported by Chevron
Street Wise, a program supported by Chevron Thailand Exploration & Production, Ltd., engaged 2,500 students and faculty at the Wicheinchom School in Songkhla Province in three days of road safety extracurricular activities. Facilitators taught participants about safe driving regulations and how to properly wear helmets, and led a road simulation activity. The program launched its initiative with the Wicheinchom School in May 2016. At the time, reports indicated that only 3% of students wore helmets. The Street Wise curriculum takes a holistic approach and includes units on pedestrian, bicycle, bus, and motorcycle safety. View more photos from the event here. |
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Thai PBS reporters join Legal Development Program members for media workshops
Two Thai PBS reporters, Hathairat Phaholtap and Darin Klong-Akara, joined members of the Legal Development Program (LDP) during the second Media for Policy Influence workshop. The event was hosted as part of a project supported by the World Health Organization and the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety. LDP members participated in media simulations, crafted messages, and gave each other feedback on content promoting seat belt use, safer public transportation, and imposing stricter driver’s license laws. The event was followed by a creative communications workshop the next day that taught participants the basics of public communications tools including social media, photography, and graphic design. The LDP program aims to provide members with the tools to use the media to advocate for road safety legislation and policy changes. |
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Chevron awards forty-six student Road Safety Ambassadors honored in Songkhla Province
Street Wise, a program supported by Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, Ltd., recognized 46 student Road Safety Ambassadors for their dedication to the program during a ceremony attended by nearly 350 community members. The event took place at the Weicheinchom School in the Muang District of Songkhla Province. The ambassadors have been educating their peers on the importance of safe road behaviors through Extracurricular Activities at their school. “Being a road safety ambassador has given me a way to help keep my schoolmates safe,” Thipayaporn Duangwisut, a grade six student and ambassador, said. “I love that through creative activities I am able to share my road safety knowledge with my friends.” Read the press release for the event here. View more photos from the event here. |
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Related news: ‘Death Data' Aims to Help Thai Drivers Be Aware of Dangerous Roads
Source: Visual News, 5 August, 2016 Thailand has a serious problem. It has the second-highest annual road fatality rate per 100,000 inhabitants (behind only Libya). The coastal nation has a fog of death engulfing its driving population and it inspired Bangkok-based interactive and graphic designer Witaya Junma to create the equally powerful and horrifying Thai Road Safety Culture (Thai RSC). The 36-year-old’s experiment data viz project and site shows the amount of people injured or killed from road accidents in Thailand by extracting real-time data from the Accident Data Center for Road Safety Culture. The number of burned matches in each line represents the amount of people killed each day. As Junma heartbreakingly explains, each match that lights up shows life being lost and damage occurring. Such an effort was very dear to him. View Junma’s data visualizations here. Read the full article from Visual News here. |
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Related news: Thailand Chairperson of AIP Foundation promotes road safety on popular TV show
Source: Ride With Me, 13 August, 2016. Ms. Ratanawadee H. Winther, Thailand Chairperson of AIP Foundation, made a guest appearance on the popular Thai television show, "Ride With Me," to advocate for improving road safety in the country. She was joined by host Peter Corp Dyrendal, a Thai-Danish actor, musician, and motorcycle enthusiast. Thailand has the second highest road crash fatality rate worldwide. Ms. Winther appears in the episode from 7 minutes 50 seconds to 11 minutes, and the program is in Thai. View the full clip here. |
China |
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Walk Wise serves 10 communities, more than 100 children via local outreach events
The Walk Wise program served more than 100 children in 10 communities in its efforts to create long-lasting changes in pedestrian safety. AIP Foundation trained interns and volunteers from two local organizations, the Kai District Youth League and Kai Xian TongChuang Social Service Center, to administer the activities. At each event, children watched an introductory video and participated in interactive games to learn about traffic signs and road dangers. The program served Wenfeng Community, and Baiquan, Manyue, Hegian, and Tanija townships, as well as five other communities. Walk Wise, which is supported by Chevron, is in its fourth phase of implementation in Kai County. As it is nearing the end of its tenure, the program is aiming to build its legacy within the communities to ensure long-term changes. View more photos from the events here |
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Walk Wise project partners strategize for 23-school expansion
Twenty Walk Wise safety directors and seven master trainers participated in a team-building workshop to reflect on the project's successes thus far while preparing for the program's upcoming 23-school expansion in the coming year. The retreat also served as a platform for Walk Wise partners to increase their ownership of the program in the hopes of creating sustainable, long-lasting changes in the target communities. AIP Foundation staff helped facilitate the event by hosting discussions on the importance of road safety education in schools. The group also participated in team-building activities that enhanced their creative problem solving skills. Walk Wise, which focuses on pedestrian safety in Kai County, is in its fourth phase of implementation. |
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