HCM City to improve road safety

Ho Chi Minh City will work with the Bloomberg Philanthropies fund to implement a transportation safety programme through 2019.
Ho Chi Minh City will work with the Bloomberg Philanthropies fund to implement a transportation safety programme through 2019.

The cooperation was the focal topic of a recent meeting between Deputy Chairman Nguyen Huu Tin of the municipal People’s Committee and the fund’s Programme Director Kelly Larson on March 31.

Low investment in transportation infrastructure and the limited number of law-abiding residents on the road stand counter to the rapid growth of the southern hub, informed Tin.

HCM City has worked to improve its public transport system and launched campaigns to raise local awareness, resulting in a 21 percent annual reduction of accidents and 7 percent reduction in mortality.

There is still much to be done to address safety concerns and the assistance from international organisations like Bloomberg Philanthropies is a great source of encouragement for the city’s efforts, Tin declared.

Larson hoped the bilateral engagement would produce practical and effective initiatives within the next five years.

The Global Road Safety Initiative initiated by Bloomberg Philanthropies aims to reduce fatalities and injuries from road accidents. With a new commitment of 125 million USD over five years, the program will work at both the national level to strengthen road safety legislation and the city level to implement proven road safety interventions.

HCM City is among ten selected cities to be sponsored by the fund.-VNA

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