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| Prime Minister: Reducing traffic accidents is a public duty |
The PM said that traffic congestion and accidents are a pressing issue in Vietnam. Despite the country’s great efforts to deal with its traffic problems, accidents continue causing dozens of injuries and claiming 30 lives every day.
The Government has announced 2012 as National Safety Traffic Year, pledging to focus on strict enforcement of traffic laws. The aim is to ease congestion and reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths, especially in big cities.
The PM urged authorities at all levels to take active measures in the coming year, with a target of reducing traffic congestion by 5% to 10%, as well as prevent fatalities and injuries.
He also urged the VOV to cooperate with the programme by promoting traffic safety nationwide.
The VOV traffic channel, 91 MHZ, has been incorporated to the project, and has carried out successful campaigns in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The radio station will give up-to-date traffic reports about conditions along National Highway 1A, with help from a roadside camera system.
In a recent interview with DTiNews, Dinh La Thang, Transport Minister, said that traffic accidents cause 11,929 deaths and 9,290 injuries per year in Vietnam. He pointed out that lax management in traffic enforcement agencies and a general unawareness of traffic rules are among the main causes of the problem.
