Police in Thot Not District in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho have found an innovative way to prevent traffic violations and lower crash fatalities on local streets.
More than ten police dummies made of plastic and styrofoam have been placed at T-junctions, crossroads and near crowded areas including schools, hospitals, and markets in the city.
The dummies are life-size photos of a traffic officer holding a speed gun.
Le Viet Trung, chief traffic officer of Thot Not, said the district has been battling a rash of road crash fatalities this year, but lack the manpower for adequate patrols.
District traffic authorities decided to try using dummies as deterrents.
“And it has brought good results. Incidents of traffic violations have fallen a lot,” Trung said.
He said the district has put 12 dummies on the street at the cost of VND40m, and they work around the clock, supplementing regular patrols.
Many drivers and local people have praised the idea.
“It looks much like a real cop," said Le Van Thanh, a xe om driver. "I slowed down as soon as I saw one last week."
A local man, Nguyen Ha Lan, said there had been fewer traffic violations since the dummy cops were put in his area.
“This awareness campaign costs very little. We’re going to expand it,” Trung said.
