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Phnom Penh, 5 June 2009 - The Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP Foundation), the Ministry of Interior, the National Road Safety Committee and the Make Roads Safe Campaign jointly organized a Helmets for Kids Ceremony at Wat Botumwatey Primary School, Phnom Penh - in support of the proposed 'Decade of Action for Road Safety'. 880 helmets were donated today to all children and teachers of Wat Botumwatey and Chaktomoc primary schools to help achieve one of the 'decade's'targets.

Each year, road crashes kill 1.3 million people worldwide - a figure forecasted to increase to more than 1.9 million by 2020 if no preventative actions are taken. In response to such alarming statistics, the FIA Foundation's Make Roads Safe campaign calls for a UN coordinated 'Decade of Action for Road Safety' with the objective of reducing the projected fatality rate by 50% by 2020. A 'decade' would provide a timeframe for action that would encourage political and resource commitments both globally and nationally. As a partner organization, AIP Foundation has been supporting the 'Call for a Decade of Action' in Southeast Asia.

The World Health Organization predicts that road crashes will become the leading cause of disability and premature death for children ages 5 and above by 2015. In Cambodia, road traffic accidents are the largest non-communicable health burden, and motorcycles are the biggest source of road traffic deaths and injuries.

H.E. Im Sithy, the Minister of Education Youth and Sport said "Road safety education is vital for protecting our children today and for safeguarding future generations as well as for achieving the goal of the Royal Government of Cambodia; under leadership of Prime Minister Samdach Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, for the nationwide enforcement of traffic laws."

"The campaign calls for 100 percent worldwide helmet use by 2020," said H.E Tram Iv Toek, President of NRSC and Minister of Public Works and Transport. "Donation and awareness programs like Helmets for Kids can help Cambodia meet this ambitious but important goal."

"Governments must combat the world's fastest growing public health emergency by committing to a road safety 'Decade of Action,' which would save 5 million lives and prevent 50 million serious injuries," said Saul Billingsley, Deputy Director General of FIA Foundation.

"Intervention strategies proven to save lives, such as AIP Foundation's Helmets for Kids program, should be implemented at greater scale if we want to achieve the decade goal," said AIP Foundation President Greig Craft. "The program educates about the importance of helmet use, distributes helmets and implements extracurricular activities at schools to keep helmet rates high."

H.E. Ouk Kim Lek, Deputy General Commissioner of the National Police said police enforcement is crucial to make this decade a success. "Helmet-use behavior will not change until people see they can avoid fines by doing so," he said. "Simply by properly enforcing helmet laws, our police force can make a large contribution to ending this public health crisis."

AIP Foundation also recognizes and appreciates support from its private sector partners. Sponsorship from ANZ Royal Bank made the expansion of Helmets for Kids into Siem Reap - celebrated by a launching ceremony earlier this week - possible.