The challenge
Road traffic injuries were a leading cause of death and disability in Viet Nam, with an estimated 60% of deaths among motorcycle riders and passengers, and enforcement of an earlier partial helmet law had been limited.
The case
On 15 December 2007 Viet Nam's first comprehensive helmet law took effect, covering all riders and passengers on all roads. The National Traffic Safety Committee led the change with an intensive public education campaign beforehand; fines rose ten-fold, and police issued 680,000 tickets for not wearing a helmet in 2008. In Da Nang, helmet wearing rose from 27% to 99%. Roadside observation of more than 665,000 riders in three provinces found correct helmet wearing averaged 40.1% before the law and 92.5% after, sustained to 2011. In the first three months, data from 20 hospitals showed the risk of road traffic head injuries fell 16% and deaths 18%.
Why it worked
Political leadership, intensive public education before the law and stringent enforcement made it work, and high helmet wearing was sustained. Officials kept monitoring the law and closed loopholes that weakened it.
Sources
- Passmore, J. W., Nguyen, L. H., Nguyen, N. P., & Olivé, J.-M. (2010). The formulation and implementation of a national helmet law: a case study from Viet Nam. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 88(10), 783–787.
- Nguyen, H. T., Passmore, J., Cuong, P. V., & Nguyen, N. P. (2013). Measuring compliance with Viet Nam's mandatory motorcycle helmet legislation. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 20(2), 192–196.
Spot an error or know a better source? Tell us