A local program with a global message: Accomplishing Streets for Life in Pleiku City

AIP Foundation is gathering with government partners, the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC), the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Transport, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, the Gia Lai Provincial Traffic Safety Committee, and relevant partners for a workshop to celebrate the milestones of the Slow Zones, Safe Zones program thus far and kickstart the extension phase.

This program, which aims to improve the safety of students' journeys to and from schools, is supported by Fondation Botnar, the Global Road Safety Partnership, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), and the International Road Assessment Programme, and aligns with the Global Plan of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.

"We have strong partnership with AIP Foundation and its partners to implement safe school zones in Pleiku City. For us, at the NTSC, it is crucial to ensure the safety of all the children in our country as they travel to school. We applaud and celebrate the achievements of the Slow Zones, Safe Zones program in safeguarding both children and parents. We look forward to the continued achievements of the program and their national application in Vietnam", shared Trinh Thu Ha- Deputy Chief at the National Traffic Safety Committee.

Bringing mobility equity to all students in Vietnam, in April, Madam Ngo Thi Minh, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education and Training signed the Official Legal Decision No 946/QD-BGDĐT to approve its use as an official school material for integrated teaching and activities on traffic safety education. From now, whichever mode of transport the students choose, they will be safer. This is the first nationwide-applied traffic safety e-curriculum for primary students in Vietnam.

The e-curriculum and education is combined with road infrastructure upgrades. Until now, the school zone modifications – with focus on speed reduction – were completed at 31 program schools in the city. The modifications include new pedestrian crossings, new pavements, steel railings to separate the footpath and the parking area for parents as well as road signs marking the speed limits and school zones.

Inspired by the modifications carried out in Pleiku, making the city a model for safe school zone in Vietnam, AIP Foundation worked hand-in-hand with the local authorities to establish the first School Zone Definition in Vietnam.

The School Zone Definition was developed by the Program Technical & Strategic Steering Committee (TSSC) and is was approved by the Pleiku's People's Committee on May 16 through the legal documment 1566/UBND-QLDT. The School Zone Defintion will apply to new schools and existing schools undergoing modifications in the city, providing better protection for students commuting to and from school. Further, it will positively impact the school community, and serve as a model for advocating for similar legal decisions on a provincial and national level to apply the School Zone Definition nationwide.

For all students across Pleiku City, the continuation of the Slow Zones, Safe Zones program will not only safeguard them on their commutes to school but will also ensure that all students have safe and equal access to their education. The program has and will continue to improve road safety immensely in Pleiku while increasingly encouraging families to walk and ride their bicycles to school, paving the way for healthier and greener cities.

"This is our target. This is our regional call to action, exemplifying our government partners who are making a specific and meaningful commitment to evidence-based action aligned with the Global Plan, with a particular focus on school zone safety, 30km/h limits, and investment for road safety in their city ahead of the High-level Meeting on Global Road Safety. This is our time to #CommitToAct to make streets for life a reality across the world, for every child and adult," shared Mr. Kim Beng Lua, Senior Officer at the Global Road Safety Partnership.

Song Hà