Protect Cambodian Children from Brain Injury

Road crashes are the sixth leading cause of mortality in Cambodia. Moreover, with more than 50% of the country’s population under the age of 30, 51% of traffic fatalities are aged 5-29. Dangerous, unstandardized school zone areas directly contribute to this reality, as children face daily life-threatening risks on their journeys to and from school. This is reflected by the fact that students accounted for 12% of all road fatalities in 2022. 

In an effort to catalyze greater countrywide regulations for school zones across Cambodia, an online multi-sector best practices meeting was held on December 23, 2025. This meeting was conducted as part of the SAFE STEPS – Road Safety Cambodia (SS-RSC) program, with support from the Prudence Foundation through Prudential Cambodia. 

The objective of the meeting was to share best practices, challenges, lessons learned, and key achievements from the implementation of the program’s “Guidelines on Road Safety for School Zones.” The meeting also sought support and strengthened cooperation from relevant stakeholders to promote the implementation of road safety activities in school zones across the country. Participants included representatives from government institutions, private schools, and target schools. 

A key highlight of the meeting was a group discussion on opportunities and challenges to promote school zone road safety through the integration and implementation of helmet-wearing regulations within schools’ own internal regulations. Through active stakeholder participation, dynamic group conversations, and showcasing of tangible impacts that had been made throughout the program’s implementation thus far, the meeting was highly successful in spearheading efforts for broader standardized school zone regulations across Cambodia. 

AIP Foundation will continue to educate, advocate, and invest in safe mobility for Cambodian youth. Visit us here and follow us to learn more about our work and receive the latest updates.

Road traffic injuries remain the leading killer of children across Southeast Asia. Unsafe school environments are a major contributor to this epidemic, as children face life-threatening risks on their journey to school on a daily basis. In Cambodia, students accounted for 12% of all road fatalities in 2022, with nearly 60% of these fatalities affecting secondary and high school students. This indicates a public health crisis that disproportionately affects young people the most. 

To contribute to the remedying of this global challenge, completed road safety modifications were inaugurated at Hun Sen Prasat Bakong High School and other target schools on September 5, 2025 in Siem Reap province. The inauguration event is part of the SAFE STEPS – Road Safety Cambodia (SS-RSC) program, with support from the Prudence Foundation through Prudential Cambodia. 

The objective of the inauguration ceremony was to strengthen road safety awareness and skills among students and school leaders, with a focus on pedestrian safety, speed limits in school zones, and the use of newly introduced infrastructure at the school. The ceremony featured ribbon-cutting by key participants and distinguished guests, followed by an educational activity lesson on the “Give Way Rule” and “Low Speed at School Zones” led by teachers and a traditional dance performed by students. Students shared their voices through a creative performance on road safety in school zones and thank-you notes to partners. 

The installation of additional educational materials (including billboards and banners) with road safety messages at the school complement the newly implemented road safety modifications by helping students understand and adopt safe behaviors, ensuring that infrastructure changes are supported by lasting knowledge and awareness among the school community. 

AIP Foundation will continue to educate, advocate, and invest in safe mobility for Cambodian youth. Visit us here and follow us to learn more about our work and receive the latest updates.