Hanoi (VNA) – United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt suggested solutions to enhance road safety in Vietnam during a working session in Hanoi on April 25 with the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) and relevant agencies.
Todt shared alarming statistics, revealing that road traffic accidents claim around 1.19 million lives and injure about 50 million people worldwide each year. Road crashes remain the leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29, with a staggering 90% of fatalities and injuries occurring in developing countries.
To address this, Todt advocated for comprehensive solutions, including public education, stricter law enforcement, and improvements in vehicle safety standards, protective gear, and road infrastructure. He stressed simple yet life-saving measures such as wearing seat belts, using certified helmets, avoiding mobile phone use while driving, never driving under the influence of alcohol, and ensuring pedestrian-friendly spaces.
Commenting on Vietnam’s traffic regulations, Todt observed that penalties, primarily fines, remain relatively lenient. Beyond stricter laws, the key lies in changing public behaviour and ingrained driving habits, he said.
NTSC Vice Chairman Le Kim Thanh reported that between 2011 and 2020, Vietnam reduced road traffic fatalities by over 30% per 100,000 people. In the second Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), the country is pursuing 12 global targets to cut road deaths and injuries by 5–10% annually, achieving an 8% reduction in 2023–2024.
Thanh highlighted 2024’s institutional milestones, including the adoption of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety and the Road Law, for a significant decline in accidents, fatalities, and injuries in the first quarter of 2025. Success factors include awareness campaigns, harsher penalties, remote enforcement via traffic cameras, and public disclosure of violators’ information.
Yet, he also outlined key transport challenges. Road transport dominates, handling 90% of passenger traffic and nearly 70% of freight, while railway, maritime, and inland waterway transport still hold a modest market share. Public transport in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City meets only 15% of demand, and high motorcycle and private vehicle ownership pose ongoing issues.
UN and World Health Organisation representatives reaffirmed their support for Vietnam’s road safety efforts, focusing on child safety, accident reduction, and promoting green growth and digital transformation in transport./.
