Bangkok--23 Dec--Solvay Peroxythai
Project Organized in Honor of His Majesty the King on his Birthday Anniversary
Siam Solvay Foundation (SSF) has recognized the paramount importance of people’s lives and properties particularly those involving young road users. It has thus continued with the “Helmets for Kids” project in a hope of reducing road casualties. This CSR initiative, now in its second year, seeks to educate youth about traffic rules and inculcate in them traffic discipline so as to help them lower traffic accidents in their communities. This good project is also staged in honor of His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of his birthday anniversary. Under the Helmets for Kids Year 2, various edutainment activities are held at the Baan Khao Huay Mahad School, Ban Chang district, Rayong province. A policeman from Ban Chang Police Station join in to deliver a lecture on traffic rules in a fun way, as youth at the school takes part in many recreational activities including a painting contest that is held under the theme of “My and My Father’s Road”. In addition, the project hands out more than 250 crash helmets to youth and their parents at the school. It is the first to participate in the project during its pilot phase.
SSF Chairwoman Siriporn Wutthilaohaphan says, “For nearly 10 years, SSF has conducted social work via various projects. We are especially engaged in projects that promote respect for traffic discipline among the youth. Statistics show that road accidents killed 18 out of 100,000 people around the globe in 2013. But in Thailand, the number of road fatalities even more than doubled that figure. In other words, road accidents killed 44 out of 100,000 Thais last year. This puts Thailand just behind Namibia* in term of road-accident deaths. If categorized by vehicle type, motorcycle accidents account for more than one third of the country’s road accidents. Of the victims, nearly 40 per cent are children being no more than 12 years old**”.
She adds that, “So, we have continued our initiative to promote road safety into the second year. The Helmets for Kids is a CRS project, as it campaigns for public awareness that the lives and properties of people are important. The importance should particularly be noted when it involves young road users, because the youth are the future of their communities. Our campaign is organized for the ultimate goals of lowering road casualties in dedication to His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of his birthday anniversary. The Helmet for Kids project has already reached its first participating school, the Baan Khao Huay Mahad School, Ban Chang district, Rayong province. This year, we have many special activities. The Ban Chang Police Station has joined in to provide a lecture on traffic rules, safe driving tips, and the proper use of protective gear in a friendly way. We have arranged recreational activities for this campaign to make it fun for the youth to pick up useful knowledge. We have promoted traffic discipline through edutainment in a hope that the youth will find the issue relevant and easy to adopt. When the youth take in traffic discipline, road casualties should reduce significantly. Moreover, we have also given more than 250 crash helmets to the youth and parents who join our activities at the school today”.
Last year, SSF began promoting traffic discipline among the youth in Rayong province under the “Helmets for Kids” project. Conducted in collaboration with the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation, the project first arranged activities at the Wat Prachum Mitr Bumrung School in Ban Chang district, Rayong province. Following the activities, it is noticeable that the youth has greater awareness of the need to wear crash helmets and raise this point with parents and relatives. The project therefore proves useful in efforts to reduce road accidents in local communities.
Mr. Praterng Sungkaew, Principal of the Baan Khao Huay Mahad School, says, “Our school has taught children from kindergarten level up to Prathom 6. Most of our students come to schools by motorcycles. The road to our school is quite winding. Aware of road-accident risks, we find an urgent need to prevent road accidents that otherwise could happen to our students. On behalf of teachers and students of Baan Khao Huay Mahad School, I would like to thank the Siam Solvay Foundation (SSF) for stepping in and helping us. I sincerely hope that from today’s activities students will understand more about traffic discipline and be able to apply such knowledge to their daily life. I also expect them to speak up for traffic discipline and engage more local people in reducing road accidents in their hometowns”.
Pol.Capt. Nattapol Nompitakpracha, an expert in traffic rules from the Ban Chang Police Station, says, “It is not possible to tell when accidents will take place. But all road users can exercise caution and reduce the risks of accidents. Follow this approach and you will be able to avoid road casualties. Before you hit the road, remind your parents to check if vehicles are in good conditions. Check tire pressure and engine oil, etc. When you travel on a motorcycle, either for a short or long distance, put a crash helmet on all the time. Both motorcyclists and their passengers must wear the helmet. When you put on the helmet, adjust its strap well. Make sure the chin strap is tight, but without hurting you. Indeed, the helmet should fit your head snugly. Turn on low-beam headlamp. Don’t drive at the speed of over 60 kilometers per hour. When reaching a junction without traffic signal, crossing a road or making a U-turn, be extra careful. Whether you are drivers or passengers, you should understand and strictly respect traffic signs”.
He also points out that, “The most important thing is that drivers must be fit physically and emotionally. If you drink, don’t drive. Not only that drunk driving increases accident risks but it is also against the laws. You can help discouraging such illegal things by keeping eyes on people in your close circles and warning them about the risk. Apply the knowledge you receive today to your daily life. It’s a way to protect your lives and properties. It will reduce road casualties in your communities”.
An attendee from the Baan Khao Huay Mahad School says, “I have much fun today. My friends and I carry out many interesting activities at various stations. In addition, we learn about traffic signs and traffic rules directly from traffic police. The information is so relevant to our lives. Children and adults alike must pay attention to traffic discipline. We don’t know when accidents will happen and to whom. But instead of watching road casualties happen again and again, we should start paying serious attention to road safety. We can boost road safety by changing our own behaviors first. I will apply the knowledge I’ve got today to my everyday life. I will also share this knowledge with my parents and my family in the hope of preventing road casualties. When we do this together, we will have a happy life”.
Ban Chang Sheriff Insee Kertmanee graciously presides over the launch of the Helmets for Kids Project at the Baan Khao Huay Mahad School where many distinguished guests are also present. As parts of the activities at the school, SSF organizes an award-presentation ceremony to honor winners of the painting contest too. Held under the theme of “My and My Father’s Road”, this contest invites children to present the safe road of their dream via paintings. Importantly, SSF has planned to bring “Helmets for Kids” Project to many more schools and communities in Rayong province on a continued basis.
*Statistics from the Transport Research Institute, Michigan University, the United States, and the World Health Organization
**Statistics from Road Accidents Data Center for Road Safety Culture