Protect Cambodian Children from Brain Injury

Cambodia’s rapid economic development has contributed to a drastic increase in personal power two-wheeler use and a consequential increase in annual road traffic fatalities and injuries. Road injury is the number one cause of death for young adults between the ages of 15 to 29. Young adults (20-24) are the highest of ‘at-fault’ groups for both drink-driving and speeding. (RCVIS Annual Report 2019) Road safety education is integral in protecting and safeguarding Cambodian youth.

Kampong Thom is the 11th most populous province in Cambodia and the 3rd highest province for road crash deaths. In 2020, road injuries increased by 26%. Youth suffer the most from road accidents and are found to be the ones who often disobey traffic laws, drive under the influence, and over-speed. This indicates a dire need for education to improve safe driving behavior. 

In June 2023, a new province kick-off ceremony was held for Kampong Thom at Kampong Thom High School, Hun Sen Taing Koak High School, and Steung Sen High School. Approximately 900 students and 150 teachers attended. His Excellency Mr. Thong Kong, Minister of the Ministry of Tourism and High Representative of the Chairman of the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC) attended the ceremony as a guest of honor. Cambodian students spent the day reinforcing their road safety skills and knowledge with interactive and fun activities. Through this holistic program, students were able to participate in motorcycle driving, helmet use, pedestrian safety training, and more. The new province kick-off ceremonies are co-organized with AIP Foundation and in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the General Secretariat of the National Road Safety Committee, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, and Kampong Thom provincial partners.

At the ceremony, guest of honor His Excellency Mr. Thong Kong, Minister of the Ministry of Tourism and High Representative of the Chairman of the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC), shared, “Students must firmly respect the road traffic law and always wear a helmet correctly regardless of the distance, time, and speed they are traveling on a motorcycle. While the Royal Government of Cambodia and concerned stakeholders have implemented many interventions to address the alarming road crashes in Cambodia, it will better prevent road crashes when students and teachers actively participate in educating families, relatives, friends, and people in their own community to follow the road safety rules, driving responsibly and know how to drive based on the motored vehicles they are using.”

The SAFE STEPS - Road Safety programme will continue to educate, advocate, and invest in the safe mobility of Cambodian students. Visit us here to learn more about our work and receive the latest updates.

On their daily commute to get an education, many children are at risk. In Cambodia, students accounted for 12% of all road fatalities in 2019 (RCVIS Annual Report 2019). Nearly 6% of all road fatalities in Cambodia are secondary and high-school students. It highlights the urgent need for preventive action. Helmets are a uniquely affordable and effective protection against head injuries on the road. Wearing a quality helmet can reduce the risk of death by 42% and the risk of serious brain injury by 69%.

In March 2023, a helmet handover ceremony was held at Hun Sen Trosek Koang High School, with approximately 600 students and 75 teachers attending. The helmet handover ceremony was co-organized with AIP Foundation - in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the National Road Safety Committee, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Kampot provincial partners, with meaningful support from Prudential Cambodia -  as part of the SAFE STEPS – Road Safety programme. 623 students and teachers received helmets that make a life-saving difference for the vulnerable school community on their way to and from school.

Reflecting on the program, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and Secretary General of the National Road Safety Committee shared, “In order to ensure that the roads of Cambodia are safe for our future generation, we must involve them and encourage active participation from road users towards the respect of the Road Traffic Law and safety measures. The SAFE STEPS event today encourages students to raise their voices influencing their peers to wear a helmet, not over speeding, respecting the law and not drink and drive. The first step toward solving the global road safety crisis is to ensure that youth and students are a part of the solution.”

The coming year of the program will continue focusing on ensuring students' safe journey to school through school zone safety improvement and quality equipment distribution. Visit us here to learn more about our work and receive the latest updates. 

As part of the SAFE STEPS – Road Safety programme, a SAFE STEPS Kids Road Safety Day took place in September last year at Hun Sen Trosek Koang high school, Kampot province, with about 1,000 students attending.

The Road Safety Day was co-organized by Prudential Cambodia, Prudence Foundation and AIP Foundation, and in collaboration with the National Road Safety Committee, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and local programme partners to help students mitigate risks on the road, provide them with safety equipment and road traffic education.

Through interactive games and fun activities, students reinforced their road safety skills and knowledge on motorcycle driving and helmet use for eligible students aged 15 or above, understanding speed limits, avoiding distractions, and the importance of pedestrian safety. Students also participated in a road safety quiz to test their understanding and received motorcycle driver training through practical demonstrations.

The success of Road Safety Day underscores the importance of offering interactive events to young children and students. The collaboration with community and governmental partners raise higher awareness among parents, policymakers, and residents to establish safe school environments and instill quality road safety education in school curricula. Safe school zones are integral in ensuring that students can access their education safely. Visit our website here to see how you can support our work and become a road safety ambassador.  

Since March 2022, AIP Foundation has launched a Safe Step Program in Cambodia.  The Safe Step Program is part of the road safety initiatives founded by  Prudence Foundation, International Federation of the Red Cross, and National Geographic to ensure road safety for countries in Asia and African. In Cambodia, AIP Foundation has been chosen as the implementing partner the program, targeting 4 primary schools, high schools in Kampong Thom and  Kampot Province. 

The program activities include education campaign on road safety using integrative approaches. The focus will be on youth and parents’ education, teacher’s capacity building, high-quality helmets distribution, school zone modification, and community-driven awareness raising. By 2024, Safe Step Program aims to reach over 12,000 students across the country, making their journeys to school safer. 

Mr. H.E. Min Meanvy, Secretary of State, Ministry of Public Works and Transport and Secretary-General of Camnbodian National Road Safety Committee shared: “The implementation of this program at proposed program provinces is really on the right target, very important and most efficient. The NRSC looks forward to working in collaboration with the teams to implement this program.”

In Cambodia, 12% of road crash fatalities victims are students and nearly 50% of them are secondary and high school students. We firmly believe that road safety risks can be reduced through education and public awareness interventions on helmet safety and road safety. Visit our website here to receive our latest update and see how you can contribute to our ongoing road safety projects.

In Cambodia, 12% of all road crash fatalities are students and nearly 50% of them are secondary and high school students (RCVIS Annual Report 2019). Students are mostly affected because they are just learning how to ride and sometimes partake in at-risk behaviors such as not wearing helmets. To continue adding to our mission of reducing these fatalities, AIP Foundation has recently launched its partnership with Prudential to bring their legacy program, Safe Steps, to Cambodia. 

Safe Steps is an international education campaign, founded through the collaboration of Prudence Foundation which is the charitable arm of Prudential, International Federation of the Red Cross, and National Geographic. The program which runs in several countries across Asia has been implemented in Cambodia by AIP Foundation, starting March 25th, 2022. 

The program aims to reach over 12,000 students in the next 2 years through a series of road safety interventions, including school-based road safety education, quality helmets donation, school zone modifications and community awareness raising. Through these programs, it is our goal that more students and vulnerable road users are protected against road injuries and fatalities, and more light is shed on the importance of practicing road safety in our community.