A traffic safety week, with the theme "Children and Traffic Safety", was launched on April 27 in Hanoi.

The week was launched by the National Traffic Safety Committee, inco-ordination with the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) and the World HealthOrganisation (WHO).

During the week, which will lastfrom May 4 to 10, information about typical reasons for trafficaccidents and consequences of traffic accidents for children will bedisseminated across the country.

The event is aimed atraising the community's awareness for protecting children from trafficaccidents, said Khuat Viet Hung, deputy chairman of the National TrafficSafety Committee.

WHO statistics showed that morethan 186,300 children in the world die due to traffic accidents peryear, which is equivalent to 500 children per day. In Viet Nam, nearly2,000 children die per year due to traffic accidents.

"Traffic accidents have become a great threat to children's lives," said Hung.
Traffic accidents are one of four first reasons for fatalities among over-five-year-old children, he said.

"Traffic accidents cause immense pain among thousands of families andthreaten countries' development. All of us hope to prevent thedisaster," said Hung.

Greig Craff, chairman of the AIP, said Vietnam should spread traffic safety culture from schools and families.

Viet Nam was one of countries that had taken the lead to vaccinatechildren, and encourage them to wear helmets and make them realise thatthis was as important as giving them vaccination. It was important tovaccinate them, said Greig Craff.

Manu Eraly, arepresentative of WHO in Vietnam, said many children driving electricbicycles without helmets had led to serious consequences after trafficaccidents.

Children's helmet quality should receive more attention, he said.-VNA