Improving road safety in Vietnam Greig Craft President, AIP Foundation NIOSH, Washington DC February 2009

1. Improving road safety in VietnamGreig CraftPresident, AIP FoundationNIOSH, Washington DCFebruary 2009

2. Global Situation • According to the WHO, in 1990, Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) were the 9th leading cause of death, in 2020, they are projected to rise to the 3rd leading cause of death. • RTAs are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24. • RTAs cost US $518 billion globally in materials, cost, and expenses • For low-income countries RTAs can cost the GDP 1-1.5%, annually.

3. Road Safety Issues in Vietnam • Dramatic increase in the number of registered vehicles • 5,921,768 vehicles in 1999 • 22,721,282 vehicles in 2007 • Over 30,000,000 by end of 2008 (final #s being confirmed) • This is a new problem. Only in the past 10 years has driving to work or driving for work been a part of people’s lives.

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13. Issues Fleet Condition Insufficient training or expectations of safe driving Minimal third party oversight or data collection Loading weight or arrangement poorly done for safety US is planning to offer technical assistance

14. Occupational Safety • Ongoing improvements in road safety related to occupations will be a key element in reinforcing behavioral change • Companies were first to take initiative when many required staff to wear helmets to work • Fleet safety programs, driver training will all help improve social emphasis on safe behavior • The Ford Initiative: Drive Safe for Life

15. What is ‘Occupational’ in Vietnam? Informal or self-employed use their own vehicles, and are subject to little regulation Local firms rarely provide training or follow-up care for employees Multinationals may offer corporate driver training, tend to have strictest regulations

16. Issues in Occupational Safety • Rules may exist, but may not be enforced, eg: • drunk driving • number of consecutive driving hours • Environmental & engineering hazards on the roads • Animals on the roads • Wet roads • Much of highway in need of safety audit, no divider and not banked

17. AIP Foundation • Started Vietnam operations in 1999. Now expanding to Thailand and Cambodia. • Four main program areas: • Helmet production (Protec) and donation to children (Helmets for Kids) • Road traffic safety education in schools • Traffic environment modification at schools • Public awareness campaigns • Other programs: Driving Skills for Life (with Ford), Motorbike taxi driver training, Police workshops.

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19. AIP Foundation’s Model: Public-Private Partnerships

20. Successes: Business & Standards “Tropical” helmet covered under new standard “Rice cooker” helmet Started the Protec Helmet Factory in 2001 Worked with Government to revise helmet standard regulations and build local capacity

21. Successes: Education & Awareness Created road safety school curriculum and donated over 400,000 helmets to children Improved public awareness of the issue

22. Successes: Legislation & Lives Saved Mandatory helmet law in December 2007, achieved 95% compliance “overnight” High helmet use credited with saving over 1,000 lives in 2008

23. Conclusions AIP Foundation has achieved major improvements in road safety by increasing helmet use. This was a necessary step to improve road safety in a country where motorbikes are 95% of vehicles and accidents exact high costs. Improved occupational road safety practices (by firms, gov’t) will improve road safety and reinforce behavioral change.

24. Next Steps • Major regional demonstrations projects • FIA Foundation • Decade of Road Safety • UN Ministerial Session