BANGKOK, Thailand – February 8 – 11, 2022

On International Youth Day 2021, the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety released its official anthem that inspires our work every day. Then, at the launch of the Global Plan of the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021 -2030, youth around the world rallied together with the Coalition to claim their space at the decision-making table. As their anthem* proclaims, they ask:

“I am more than just a statistic,\nThanks to my existence, the entire society can now be optimistic about the future.\nBut, with all these road crashes, how do you expect me to get to my future?”

These impactful words serve as a stark reminder to us all that we still have a long road ahead to tackling the global road safety crisis. At AIP Foundation, we believe that youth should be a part of the solution.

As part of theYouth Road Safety Championsprogram supported by Bridgestone Thailand, we held student trainings to improve the road safety skills and knowledge of young students between 13-15 years old. This program is inherently aligned with the Global Plan and Thailand’s National Road Safety plan.

Our first 2022 student trainings took place in three target schools in the Northern, Central, and Northeastern regions, with estimated participants of 50 students per school. All three schools are located on major roads plagued with heavy and deadly traffic. The training was based on two key components: road user risk management and hazardous attitudes and behavior.

Throughout the training, students learned how to identify dangers and assess the likelihood and severity of a hazard on the road, increase their knowledge on how to assess the risks and control the risk and finally to understand and avoid hazardous attitudes. As a result of the training, they are now familiar with the tools and knowledge to raise their voice and take a stand against the global road safety crisis. The students are equipped to be safer and smarter road users, a next generation ready to empower their community.