HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, May 11, 2013– FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company and a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX), in collaboration with Safe Kids Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Department of Education and Training and the HCMC Traffic Safety Committee, today kicked–off their “Safe Walking” campaign. In support of the second United Nations Global Road Safety Week, held from May 5-12, the campaign aims to educate and improve pedestrian safety awareness among HCMC students and the community.
“Safety is our top priority at FedEx, and through the “Safe Walking” Campaign, we are increasing awareness of pedestrian traffic safety issues in Ho Chi Minh City,” said Nguyen DuyBinh, senior manager, FedExVietnam and Indochina. “Together with Safe Kids Vietnam, we look forward to creating a safer walking environment for local communities in Vietnam.”
More than 1,000 people, including FedEx volunteers, joined the Safe Walking Campaign. The walk was designed to focus the community’s attention on pedestrian safety and to warn people of the danger they face when walking on the road. The route began and finished at the Youth Cultural House, passing through Ho Chi Minh City’s main streets, including Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Hai Ba Trung, Le Duan, and Pham Ngoc Thach.
The “Safe Walking” campaign also included a photography contest and exhibition about the challenging walking environment faced by Ho Chi Minh City’s secondary students. Using photography, students shared their thoughts about the current traffic and pedestrian safety environment in their neighborhoods and around their schools. In addition to winning valuable prizes, the 100 photos that received the most Facebook “likes” are on display at the Youth Cultural House from May 11-18, 2013.
“We are delighted to collaborate with FedEx to launch the “Safe Walking” campaign,” said MirjamSidik, chief executive officer of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, representing Safe Kids Worldwide in Vietnam. “According to the World Health Organization, pedestrians account for 22 percent of road traffic fatalities around the world. This May, the UN marks its second Global Road Safety Week by focusing on pedestrians. In line with this theme, we hope to draw attention to the urgent need to better protect vulnerable road users and to spark action on the measures needed to do so”.