The alarming number of road accidents in Viet Nam and what to do about the problem was the main topic of discussion at Wednesday’s government meeting.
The 6,500 reported accidents nationwide in the first five months of 2007 left a staggering 5,600 people dead and 4,800 injured.
The trend showed no signs of abating in May, a month that killed 1,112 road users and injured 883.
One of the contributing factors, pointed out Minister of Traffic and Transport Ho Nghia Dung, is that more and more urban and residential areas, industrial and commercial zones, service centers and schools are being built along main roads and encroaching on the side streets.
The resulting heavy traffic on the highways and byways makes the roads very dangerous and inevitably leads to more accidents and deaths.
Mr. Dung submitted a proposal from his ministry to promote road safety as well as a draft resolution on urgent measures to lower the number and severity of accidents.
The ministers in attendance were unanimous in their support for the plan, which would allow the chairmen of provincial and municipal people’s committees to order the clearing of anything that blocks roads or hinders the smooth and orderly flow of traffic.
In the event of repeated violations, the chairman of a communal or district people’s committee would be disciplined.
The ministry’s draft resolution sets a target for ascertaining and eliminating all “black spots” where traffic accidents occur regularly by 2010, and to halve the number of level crossings by 2009.
It also suggests harsher penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving an unregistered vehicle, and riding a motorcycle without a helmet on roads where they are mandatory.
