Theyhave been imposing fines and conducting publicity campaigns to raise parentalawareness of the issue. Helmets are also given away to children, hoping toensure their safety on the road.

Policesaid their move aims to increase helmet-wearing rate among children. The rateof adult drivers wearing helmets in Vietnam ranges between 80-85 percent.However, the figure is less than 10 percent amongst children passengers.

Itis a recurring event that in traffic accidents, it is often the children whofall victim as they are not adequately protecting their heads. The situation isblamed on the lack of law enforcement, publicity, and parental attention.

 “I don’t ask my child to wear a helmet becauseI think that my child is only small and sitting between us is safe enough,”said Nguyen Thuy Anh, a resident in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

Onmany streets of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, most children do not wear helmets asthey ride around on motorbikes with their parents. For those that do, many areoften of poor quality or are not worn correctly, and are therefore useless.

Accordingto the Law on Road Traffic, police may impose instant fines of 4-8 US dollarson those who carry children aged six and above without helmets on motorbikes. Theprice of the fine could buy a decent quality helmet.

Policesaid many children become victims in traffic accidents due to not wearing theirhelmets properly, with their straps either unbuckled or too loose.

“Parentsshould help their children understand the importance of wearing helmets,” saidNguyen Ngoc Tho, vice head of the Ben Thanh District Traffic Police. “Wearinghelmets would help reduce the risk of serious head injuries, even preventingthe potential deaths of their children during motorbike accidents,” he said.

Forcingchildren passengers to wear a helmet is not about obeying the law, but is amatter of care for the younger generation. Parents must take responsibility inensuring this basic aspect of safety for their children, police said. –VNA