On 8 November the Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi distributed nearly 1,000 high-quality helmets to students at Ba Dinh Primary School in Hanoi.
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Today, the Embassy of Sweden in Vietnam with great support from our Swedish companies, AstraZeneca, Volvo, ABB, Ericsson, SKF and Tetra Pak distributed nearly 1,000 high-quality helmets to students at Ba Dinh Primary School in Hanoi.
At the event, the organizers called for stronger public awareness and urged adults to put helmets on children whenever they travel on motorcycles. Additionally, there was a flash mob dance that encouraged students to always wear their helmets as well as games that tested their helmet safety knowledge.
Swedish Ambassador Pereric Högberg spoke at the event:
“In Vietnam, I hear stories all the time that the Vietnamese are concerned about safety, especially traffic safety. It is not cool to be on a bike without a helmet and a good helmet is simply life-saving! I want to stress and ensure that riders of all ages are safe while enjoying their bikes.”
Road safety is a major public health issue in Vietnam. According to estimates from the AIP Foundation, approximately 22,000 people lose their lives and 453,000 suffer injuries due to road crashes each year. With over 80 percent of the population under the age of 50, the effects of road crash deaths on young people result in losses to both the family and the larger community.
Traffic fatalities and injuries also generate economic strain for society. From 2007-2017, AIP Foundation calculated that Vietnam lost $3.5 billion USD as a result of road crashes.
The distribution of the helmets was done with support from the Swedish companies AstraZeneca, Volvo, ABB, Ericsson, SKF and Tetra Pak.