China Partners with International Expertise to Improve Road Safety `China Seatbelt Intervention Project'

China Partners with International Expertise to Improve Road Safety `China Seatbelt Intervention Project'

February 22, 2006

    BEIJING, Feb. 22 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- National and
International members of the China seatbelt intervention
Steering Committee will meet today in Beijing to discuss
the progress of a leading project in the province of
Guangzhou, which addresses the low usage of seatbelt
wearing rates among drivers and front seat passengers in
China. 

    The China Seatbelt Intervention Project is a
co-operation between the Chinese government, international
organizations and industry. 

    The implementation of this project is guided by the
members of the Steering Committee which includes the
Traffic Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Public
Security of China, officials from the Ministry of Health,
officials from the Public Security and Traffic Departments
of Guangzhou Municipal Government, officials and
specialists from the WHO, representative of sponsoring
company (BP) and technical leaders, The George Institute
for International Health.

    Recognising the potential of this intervention to
significantly reduce deaths and injuries on China's roads,
the Chinese government has embraced international best
practice in line with existing government policy and
highlights the intent of the new road safety law.  

    World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in
China, Dr Henk Bekedam, spoke out in support of the
project, encouraging individuals to take up safer driving
practices for the sake of themselves and their families.

    "Today, China accounts for around 15% of the
world's total number of deaths from traffic accidents every
year, and the number has been increasing by 10%
annually," Dr Bekedam said.  "Almost 10,000 road
traffic crashes took place in Guangzhou during 2004,
resulting in 1,800 deaths and almost 12,000 people injured.
 Throughout China, this death toll exceeds 100,000 people
each year". 

    The high rate of road injury is not surprising
considering that motor vehicle production has tripled since
the early 1990s.  Due to the rapid growth of large urban
centres such as Guangzhou there is an urgent need to
implement proven road safety interventions".  

    The China Seatbelt Intervention Project', communicates
a very clear and simple message for motor vehicle drivers
and passengers -- `Seatbelts save lives," added Dr
Bekedam.

    It is internationally recognised that the use of
seatbelts is a key measure in reducing the number of deaths
in traffic crashes.  Research indicates up to 70% of deaths
from car crashes could be prevented if the occupants wore
seatbelts.  However, despite the availability of seatbelts
in almost all passenger cars in China, along with laws
stipulating the use of seatbelts, their use is low. 

    The George Institute for International Health
officially launched the `China Seatbelt Intervention
Project' in Guangzhou in mid-2005.  Adopting practices
found successful around the world, senior police and
traffic officers attended seatbelt law enforcement training
and commenced intensive enforcement program in October 2005,
in which almost 3000 vehicles were inspected and 1000
drivers or passengers not wearing their seatbelt were
penalized or educated.  This scientific approach will
assist policy makers to best identify how to carry out this
type of intervention and demonstrate how to gain the most
impact and benefits to Chinese citizens.  

    To complement the intervention, an intensive social
marketing campaign is underway, focusing on raising
awareness of road traffic safety laws, according to the
Traffic Command and Control Center of Guangzhou Municipal
Bureau of Public Security.  It is being rolled out in
collaboration with training managers of taxi companies and
members of traffic safety committees.  The center reports:
"Guangzhou police have indicated that since the launch
of the China Seatbelt Intervention, a series of activities
including social marketing campaigns, taxi companies'
management and enhanced seatbelt enforcement, aimed to
increase seatbelt use awareness and compliance, have been
implemented. 

    According to the WHO, road traffic injuries are the
ninth cause of human death globally.  In 2020, this ranking
is expected to move to third, overtaking diseases like
HIV/AIDS and malaria.  In China, road traffic injuries are
predicted to increase by a further 92% by 2020 in the
absence of urgent prevention measures.

    Director of the Injury Prevention and Trauma Care
Division at The George Institute, Professor Mark Stevenson,
said: "Seatbelts are one of the simplest ways to avoid
death and injury in a road crash.  It takes just a few
seconds to fasten a seatbelt and these few seconds could
save your life." 

    The 24-month intervention project is due for completion
in October 2006. The project will have implemented best
practice in relation to strategies to increase the use of
seatbelts and it is anticipated that the project will see
an increase in seatbelt restraint use of at least 20%.

    For more information, please contact:

     World Health Organization (WHO)
     Ms Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
     WHO China Communications Officer 				
     Tel:    [phone] 						 
     Mobile: [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail] 				

     Mr James Yu
     Project Manager, Beijing Office
     The George Institute for International Health
     Tel:    [phone]
     Mobile: [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]

     Ms Emma Eyles
     Public Affairs Officer
     The George Institute for International Health
     Tel:    [phone]
     Mobile: [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]


SOURCE  World Health Organization; The George Institute for
International Health