World Health Organization and National Road Safety Committee launch a

helmet campaign and provide new equipment to police

Phnom Penh, 25th July 2012 The
World Health Organization (WHO) and
the National Road Safety Committee
(NRSC) launch today a joint media
campaign on helmet use for all drivers
of motorized two and three wheelers
and their passengers. At the launch
event, WHO and the Global Road Safety
Partnership have also provided breath-
analysers and other equipment to support
the traffic police to enforce helmet usage
and crackdown on drinking and driving.

Both activities are part of the Road Safety

in 10 Countries (RS10) Project aiming to
save lives by reducing the more than
1800 deaths and 6700 severe injuries
resulting from road traffic crashes on the
roads of Cambodia each year.

The campaign aims to increase

awareness and prevention of major
risks to motorcycle riders with a clear
and simple message: Wear a helmet,
anywhere and anytime. The campaign
targets drivers and passengers by continually increases in Cambodia, head The most vulnerable group was The RS10 Project is led and coordinated the police on helmet use. observedKelly
showing the serious health and legal injuries and related deaths and disabilities motorcycle riders who constituted 72.5% by the National Road Safety Committee Larson road safety program representative
consequences that riding without a are expected to rise. of the total road traffic casualties and 67% of the Ministry of Public Works in for Bloomberg Philanthropies.
helmet can have for both. of them died. Among these, 69% suffered collaboration with relevant government Bloomberg Philanthropies works
For survivors of head injuries, there is severe head injuries. This figure was also institutions, various international primarily to advance five areas globally:
Road traffic injuries and fatalities are a significant social and economic cost observed among motorbike passengers. consortium partners namely WHO, the the Arts, Education, the Environment,
major public health concerns in Cambodia associated with specialized The RCVIS data indicated only 23% of Global Road Safety Partnership and Government Innovation and Public Health.
and on average at least 5 people are or long-term care, said Dr. Pieter JM motorcycle riders were wearing helmets at John Hopkins University, and other road Form more information please visit:
killed a day on the countrys roads, said Van Maaren, the WHO Representative the time of the crash. safety stakeholders. http://bloombergdotorg.tumblr.com/about/
HE Ung Chhu Huor, Secretary General in Cambodia. Compared with helmeted
of the National Road Safety Committee. motorcyclists, non-helmeted motorcyclists This campaign and equipment handover The project is entirely funded by Bloomberg
Motorcycles are a significant cause of are more than four times as likely to have are part of the implementation of Philanthropies. Our goal is to reduce For further information please contact:
road traffic injuries and fatalities, especially head injuries and ten times as likely to have the RS10 Project supported by the road traffic fatalities and injuries worldwide. Mr Steven Iddings, Team Leader, RSIP,
in developing countries where they are an brain injuries, stressed Dr. Van Maaren. Bloomberg Philanthropies with technical And we know that improving road safety IddingsS@wpro.who.int
increasingly frequent means of transport. In 2011, according to the preliminary report assistance from WHO. RS10 Cambodia in Cambodia will help us achieve our Dr Sao Sovanratnak, NationalProfessional
Head injuries to motorcycle drivers who of the Road Crash Victim Information began in 2010 with a focus on two risk goal. With this helmet campaign we are Officer, RSIP, saos@wpro.who.int
fail to use helmets are the main cause of System (RCVIS) there were 16,654 factors that significantly contribute to an complementing Cambodias road safety
disability and deaths in incidents involving casualties that resulted in 1,905 deaths increase in traffic violations and crashes; efforts implemented thus far and increasing
this mode of transport. As motorcycle use and 5807 severe injuries in Cambodia. non-helmet use and drinking and driving. awareness of increased enforcement by
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