Road Safety Program 2008-2010 Update in Lao PDR

1. Road Safety Program Lao PDR 2008 - 2010 Christa Weichert

2. Update • Minister strongly expresses that MPWT wants to collaborate with HIB. • Agreement signed between MPWT and HIB on 23 August 2010 • DOT is still not cooperating • Activities blocked: > Helmet enforcement campaign in schools > CBRS activities in Savannakhet

3. Update Positive • Despite difficult situation successful activities • All of them with government support Negative • RS team lost 3 members > Public Awareness Officer > Database Officer > Project Assistant Vientiane

4. Data • 765 fatalities * • 24% increase in fatalities compared to 2008 * • 53.6% RC victims between 15 and 25 years old ** • 83% of 15 to 25 year old drivers had no driving license ** • 84% Motorcycle victims ** * MPWT data ** HIB Hospital Survey 2009

5. Helmet Wearing • Helmet wearing rate dropped: > October 2009 77% > April 2010 67% • Helmet wearing much lower at night • Many people wear helmet only on main roads • Chinstraps are not closed • Enforcement is not so frequent • Traffic police can be seen riding without helmets

6. Data Collection • Hospital survey April 2010 conducted > Report currently prepared • Hospital survey October 2010 is cancelled to resignation of database officer • Helmet survey April conducted in VTE & SVK • Helmet survey September currently prepared. • Volunteer support offered to government for school survey.

7. RS Education • Re-focus on RS primary curriculum on request of Minister of PWT > Approved Lesson Grid from 2008 > 50% of RS curriculum already prepared > Cambodian curriculum as model requested by minister > Agree on work plan / partners • Curriculum to finished at the end of 2010, ready for testing and approval, but without books

8. RS Education cont. • Production of books / testing / training not possible under current phase. Instead… • Development of flip chart stand with poster set (10-15topics) focusing on curriculum topics > Content to be decided with government > Use same graphic artist > Print on plastic

9. Public Awareness Three very successful PA activities: • RS banners for over 50 traffic police booths in VTE and SVK for SEA Games > Topics: Helmet wearing, Drunk-driving, speeding > In cooperation with traffic police > Boards are still at police booths

10. Public Awareness cont. • Valentine Day Awareness campaign: > Production of Valentine’s card with RS messages > Distribution by traffic police and RS volunteers at schools and roadside in VTE & SVK > School distribution included RS lesson > Evaluation confirmed positive reception of targeted age group

11. Public Awareness cont. • Lao New Year campaign: > Street banners in VTE & SVK > Radio spots & DJ announcements > Letters to drivers on Drunk-Driving: Letter developed in conjunction with traffic police and distributed by police and HIB volunteers on several days > Press conference with traffic police and HIB

12. RS Network • Currently 8 members, among them UNICEF • 10 prospective members, among them Lao Tobacco (400 employees), TIGO (200 employees) • First Newsletter soon to be published • RS training provided upon request • First Aid training to be organized for members

13. CBRS • Currently 6 CBRS teams • Regular support provided • 6 Farm tractor trainings organized and ca. 14 more trainings to come • Activities in collaboration with DPWT and Traffic Police Savannakhet

14. 2011 - 2013 • Lao PDR will be part of DGCD project cycle 2011-2013 • Planning workshop was held in June 2010 in Vientiane with participation of > MPWT / DOT > DepPWT Savannakhet Province > DepPWT Vientiane and Vientiane Province > Traffic Police > MOH / Friendship Hospital • Majority of activities proposed were found appropriate by participants • DOT leadership requests changes, mainly to focus stronger on Vientiane Capital

15. Result 1 A RS institutional framework and a national network are organised and functional. • Workshop ‘Protection of VRU’ for provincial stakeholders • Training / advice / equipment to DPWT Savannakhet • Study tour within the region • Re-activate RS Coordination Meeting

16. Result 2 Adapted national RS strategies are designed so that actions can be imple-mented by the network. • Support to NRSC to adapt National Strategy • Support small local research projects of university / students • Handover of hospital surveys in VTE & SVK including training • Helmet surveys: handover to traffic police (including training) • Set up / support of basic RCVIS in VTE and SVK

17. Result 3 Actions are implemented in an attempt to reduce road accidents and their severity in the long run. • Develop 1 Awareness + Enforcement model campaign with traffic police • Peer education project in 10 secondary schools in VTE & SVK • Continue & extend CBRS activities in SVK • Adapt existing licensing course for motorcyclists aged 15-25years and organize training in 5 rural districts • Develop farm tractor license course and facilitate 20 courses

18. Result 4 Appropriate and timely medical response to reduce trauma of road crash victims is provided • Develop pilot project on post-crash assistance including material to be used in coordination with relevant stakeholders

19. Result 5 Civil society organizations advocating for road safety (CSARS) in target countries are strengthened. • RS Network: > renewed membership drive > move towards an NPA (executive board) • RC Victim team > prepare to work on public awareness

20. Result 6 Access to safe mobility and transport is improved for People's with Disabilities • Conduct study on mobility issues (and their consequences) for PWD. • Workshop on mobility issues for PWD in the Lao PDR • Lobby for driving license for PWD and provide necessary support to Testing Centre.

21. Result 5 Civil society organizations advocating for road safety (CSARS) in target countries are strengthened. • RS Network: > renewed membership drive > move towards an NPA (executive board) • RC Victim team > prepare to work on public awareness