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Youth and road safety July 2006 Kolap Hul, Youth Coordinator, Cambodia Red Cross In 2005, the Road Safety Project of the Cambodian Red Cross was implemented eight schools in the capital city, Phnom Penh, with 400 CRC Youth received training and helmets. In 2006, the Cambodian Red Cross Youth Program has expanded the Road Safety Project, Road Safety Begins with Me, to Battambang Province, the second largest province in Cambodia. This province has the third highest number of road accidents in Cambodia, according to 2004 Road Traffic Accident and Victim Information System Report. Humanitarian crisis Road safety is fast becoming a humanitarian crisis in Cambodia, with fatality and injury rates twice the regional average. Youth account for almost half of all traffic casualties. The volume of traffic is expected to rise exponentially over the next decade. Due to these alarming statistics, the CRCYP identified, in consultation with students in the city, a clear need to intervene to create greater road safety awareness among youth. CRCYP believes that in order to influence others to change their behaviors on the road, the youth must become role models within their schools, families and communities. The project has two components; road safety workshops in high schools, and city-wide campaigns designed to raise awareness among youth through parades and performances. Training As a first step, CRC Youth Advisors in four high schools in Battambang received road safety training. Next, the Youth Advisors facilitated training to 175 CRC Youth through a five-day youth camp from June 30 to July 4, 2006. The training included information on the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the seven Fundamental Principles, CRC Youth Programme Policy, First Aid, Road Safety Laws and Regulations, and a Road Safety Simulation Course. After the training, all facilitators and participants receive helmets. A social side During the training, the youth were able to interact with one another thro