The Transport Ministry is calling for changes to the working day, aswell as school hours to help combat chronic traffic congestion in thecapital.
Officials from the ministry and municipal agencies met in Hanoi on Oct. 25 to discuss the proposal.
Nguyen Cong Bang, deputy director of the Transport Ministry'sTransport Department, which is responsible for drafting the proposal,said the adjustment had to be based on a scientific approach so thatwhen adopted, it would not adversely affect the daily lives of workersand students.
Bang said its has been suggested thatthe working day should start one hour later than the current hour. Thoseaffected would be municipal and State agency officials, kindergartenpupils and students at elementary, secondary and high schools as well asthose attending universities in Cau Giay, Dong Da, Thanh Xuan and HaiBa Trung districts.
University lectures typicallystart at 7am and last from four to five hours. It has been suggestedthat lectures and tutorials be put back an hour to ease traffic flow.
However, Vu Quang Tho, deputy director of the Trade Union University, thought the proposal misguided.
"Starting lessons one hour earlier in the morning may have a negativeeffect on people's health, while starting at 12.30pm in the afternoonwould prove counter-productive and be biologically harmful because humanbeings would feel sluggish," he said.
Nguyen VietThinh, rector of the Hanoi University of Education, doubted thatchanging study hours would improve the traffic flow. He said most of thetraffic on the roads does not involve only students and officials.
Nguyen Hiep Thong, from the Department of Education, said traffic jams also occur during the summer holidays.
He said travel patterns should be studied.
Nguyen Quoc Hung, director of the Transport Department, said theproposal would first be tried out on universities' students and businesscentres. /.
Officials from the ministry and municipal agencies met in Hanoi on Oct. 25 to discuss the proposal.
Nguyen Cong Bang, deputy director of the Transport Ministry'sTransport Department, which is responsible for drafting the proposal,said the adjustment had to be based on a scientific approach so thatwhen adopted, it would not adversely affect the daily lives of workersand students.
Bang said its has been suggested thatthe working day should start one hour later than the current hour. Thoseaffected would be municipal and State agency officials, kindergartenpupils and students at elementary, secondary and high schools as well asthose attending universities in Cau Giay, Dong Da, Thanh Xuan and HaiBa Trung districts.
University lectures typicallystart at 7am and last from four to five hours. It has been suggestedthat lectures and tutorials be put back an hour to ease traffic flow.
However, Vu Quang Tho, deputy director of the Trade Union University, thought the proposal misguided.
"Starting lessons one hour earlier in the morning may have a negativeeffect on people's health, while starting at 12.30pm in the afternoonwould prove counter-productive and be biologically harmful because humanbeings would feel sluggish," he said.
Nguyen VietThinh, rector of the Hanoi University of Education, doubted thatchanging study hours would improve the traffic flow. He said most of thetraffic on the roads does not involve only students and officials.
Nguyen Hiep Thong, from the Department of Education, said traffic jams also occur during the summer holidays.
He said travel patterns should be studied.
Nguyen Quoc Hung, director of the Transport Department, said theproposal would first be tried out on universities' students and businesscentres. /.
