UPS backs road satefy

The grant from The UPS Foundation, which spearheads corporate citizenship and philanthropic initiatives, will enable the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation to promote road safety and deliver safety helmets to 27,000 children who travel to and from school by family motorcycles in South East Asia. 

According to the World Health Organization, road traffic accidents are a leading cause of death and injury in Vietnam and young children are particularly vulnerable. Motorcycles are the primary mode of transport in major Vietnamese cities and helmets can be a simple and inexpensive safety precaution.

Road safety laws mandate the wearing of helmets for riders and passengers, but there continue to be opportunities in enforcement and to further raise the profile of road safety awareness in the country.  

"Road safety is of paramount importance to UPS, as our drivers, 70 of whom are in Vietnam, are the front-line of our organisation. Trained in safe driving methods, UPS drivers are some of the safest on the road," said Jeff Mclean, general manager of UPS Vietnam. 

"We are proud that our ethos for safety extends to the safety of the local communities in Vietnam, and to be part of this programme which raises public awareness, empowers teachers with knowledge and provides education and helmets for children."  

"The UPS Foundation's grant will be providing safety awareness and fund AIP to donate more than 3,000 helmets to children in Ho Chi Minh City's District 12 for the 2012-2013 school year, where we found helmet usage the lowest in the country," said Mirjam Sidik, Asia Injury Prevention Foundation executive director. 

"We are grateful for UPS's long-term commitment toward promoting road safety awareness and believe this initiative will raise safety standards in this community for years to come."   In 2011 and 2012, 39 UPS volunteers contributed 169 volunteering hours in the rollout of the Helmets for Kids project in a school in Ho Chi Minh City's District 12.

They helped children find the right helmet size, participated in the helmet handover ceremony, and were involved in the road safety education programme.  The hands-on involvement of volunteers is a unique characteristic of UPS's philanthropic efforts and its continued commitment to the communities it serves.