Some 46 severe traffic jams (lasting over half an hour) occur in January – June, a year-on-year increase of 8 percent. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi(VNA) – Vietnam saw a decline in road accidents in the first half of 2019 while the number ofprolonged traffic congestion was on a rise, according to the latest report of the National Committeefor Road Safety.
As many as8.385 traffic accidents, resulting in 3,810 deaths and 6,358 injuries, wererecorded, down 7.1 percent, 7.55 percent and 9.65 percent from the same periodlast year.
There were 19serious accidents that claimed a total of 73 lives and injured 87 people.
The trafficfatality rate reduced in 47 major cities and provinces, the report said.
It alsoindicated that 46 severe traffic jams (lasting over half an hour) occurred inJanuary – June, a year-on-year increase of 8 percent. Road crashes were blamedfor 33 cases, accounting 71.7 percent of the total, while seven cases,or 15.2 percent, were caused by excessive number of vehicles on roads.
In January,the Ministry of Transport issued a plan on improving traffic safety for2019, which details measures to raise public awareness and compliance withtraffic rules, among others.
The plan aims to reduce traffic accidents and relatedcasualties by 10 percent compared to 2018. The numbers of deaths and injuriescaused by accidents involving motorcycles and coaches are projected to decreaseby 10 percent.
The ministry has also ordered the Directoratefor Roads of Vietnam to tighten the granting of licenses for drivers of bothcars and trucks with changes to bemade in driving lesson, instructors, and practical behind-the-wheel tests.
The move came following adisastrous traffic accident in the southern province of Long An where a container truck hit 21 motorbikeswaiting at a red light at the Nhut Chanh junction in Ben Luc district.
The crash killed three people on thespot and injured 17 others.One more person died at hospital. The truck driver was later found to have used both drugs and alcohol.
The ministryhas requested transport firms to require all of their drivers to take medicalcheckups and immediately fire those tested positive for drugs.–VNA
VNA
