Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired an online conference reviewing outcomes of road safety programmes nationwide in the first quarter on March 31.

Road accidents totalled 5,850 cases in the reviewed time, leaving 2,345 people dead and 5448 others injured.

Compared to the same period last year, reductions were seen in the number of accidents (11.11 percent), fatalities (3.38 percent) and injuries (15.07 percent).

Thirty-six out of 63 cities and provinces recorded a decrease in mortality rate, particularly southern Dong Nai province, which posted a drop of more than 50 percent.

Nguyen Van Thanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transportation Association, raised concerns about the loose control of driving tests and drivers’ performance.

He stressed the urgent need for detailed inspection of drivers’ route data and stronger measures to be taken against drunk driving.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Dinh La Thang showed his determination to clear the issue of overweight transportation.

Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is also head of the National Committee on Road Safety, required local administrations’ greater involvement in handling transport issues.

He suggested heavier fines on law violators and intensive patrols at accident-prone places.-VNA