First graders get free helmets

The event drew the attendance of Permanent Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The, Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, and General Director of Honda Viet Nam Keisuke Tsuruzono. 

This is the second year Honda Viet Nam responds to the calling of the National Traffic Safety Committee and the Ministry of Education and Training on helmet gifts for first-grade pupils in accordance with Directive 04/CT-TTg on strengthening management in production, business and use of helmets when joining in traffic. Especially, the Directive targets to raise the percentage of national helmet coverage for children to 80% by 2020. 

In the 2018-2019 school year, Honda Vietnam delivered nearly 2 million standard helmets to first graders nationwide, contributing to increasing helmet wearing among 6-year-old children in Viet Nam. 

After eight months, a survey in 10 provinces showed around 60% of first grade pupils wear helmets when they are driven to school while helmets were delivered to all of them by late 2018. He blamed many parents for not wearing helmets for their children when taking them on their bikes.

Addressing the event, Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh hailed the three sides for launching a significant program and at the same time asked them to seriously assess the ratio of helmet wearing among children as it is still low. 

General Director of Honda Vietnam Keisuke Tsuruzono said his company will continue accompanying the Vietnamese Government in ensuring traffic safety for children and people in general.

In 2018, 1,442 children fell victims to traffic accidents, a drop of 17% from 2017./.

By Kim Anh