This partnership envisions reducing tragic losses from road traffic accidents involving children and youth in Vietnam, from more than 2,000 fatalities annually to zero.

The initiative is a joint effort by WHO, the United Nations’ global lead agency for road safety, and the AIP Foundation, supported financially by Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety and the FIA Foundation.

Other founding partners include UNICEF, UNESCO, the Embassies of Japan and Sweden, the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), Vital Strategies, Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), HealthBridge Canada, among others.

Speaking at the launch on October 14, Dr. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, emphasised that the partnership aims to support Vietnam in achieving road safety goals through coordinated, evidence-based, and results-focused actions.

She acknowledged that although child traffic fatalities in Vietnam have shown a downward trend, there is still much work to be done. She stressed the importance of putting children’s safety on the roads at the forefront, reminding that road safety is a collective responsibility.

With the official launch of Vietnam Project 2000, she expressed optimism that this collaborative initiative would play a vital role in reducing child road deaths each year, reinforcing the government’s commitment to protecting children - the most vulnerable road users.

Greig F. Craft, Founder and Chair of the AIP Foundation, highlighted that losing 2,000 children annually is not only a huge tragedy for families but also a significant burden on the healthcare system, economy, and society as a whole.

However, these tragedies are not inevitable, they are entirely preventable, he said adding that the AIP Foundation is proud to collaborate with WHO Vietnam and other partners to commit to protecting children, ensuring community safety, and building a safer future where no one dies senselessly on the streets.

The partnership will focus on three key challenges, namely motorbike safety, safe school zones, and child car seats. Actions in these three areas have proven to be the most effective in protecting children from injury and death in traffic accidents.

Immediately following the launch, a practical workshop on helmet safety was held, to improve access to affordable, standard helmets and encourage correct helmet use.

Vietnam Project 2000 is the country’s first national-level road safety partnership of this kind, initiated by WHO Vietnam and the AIP Foundation, addressing one of Vietnam’s most urgent public health crises - preventable child and adolescent road traffic deaths.

The initiative brings together government ministries, international organisations, embassies, NGOs, universities, youth voices, and other stakeholders to promote policies, infrastructure, and behaviour changes aimed at saving young lives.

Khanh Hoa to host requiem for traffic accident victims

VOV.VN - The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Central Committee and the National Traffic Safety Committee will hold a requiem for victims of traffic accidents in Vietnam at Long Son Pagoda, Khanh Hoa province, on October 3 - 4.