Police stop a motorbike driver near Hoan Kiem Lake in the capital city. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has urged the NationalCommittee for Traffic Safety along with the Ministries of Transport and Public Securityto exert all efforts to reduce traffic accidents during the Lunar New Yearholiday (Tet) which lasts from February 2-10 this year.
Binh, who is alsoChairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, spoke at a recent conference to discuss traffic safety solutions,following a number of recent collisions.
Khuat Viet Hung, vicechairman of the committee, mentioned fatal accidents involving trucks andcoaches in the first half of January.
Besides poor driving,transport enterprises are also to blame for these incidents, he said.
According to Hung, manytransport enterprises put huge pressure on drivers – forcing them to work longhours without being monitored and or conducting periodic checks on vehicles.
The punishments forthose companies are not strict enough to stop them committing violations.
A drug and alcoholtesting campaign in some localities and accident black spots was suggested byTransport Minister Nguyen Van The, aiming to reduce traffic accidents,especially those involving large vehicles.
Last week, Ho Chi MinhCity Traffic Police started to conduct drug tests on truck and coach drivers. On the first two days ofthe campaign, January 12 and 13, five of 44 drivers tested positive fornarcotics.
Binh instructed that thedrivers have their licences revoked. At the same time, investigations will beconducted into a number of transport companies and driving schools.
The Deputy PM also askedfor management on the issuance of driving licences to be tightened and harshpunishments imposed on any schools which violate regulations.
Responding to the 24fatal traffic accidents in late December, 2018 and the first half of January,2019, Nguyen Van Huyen, General Director of the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam,said that poor driving was partly to blame.
Some experienced driverscause accidents by overestimating their ability or driving dangerously, hesaid.
On January 17, a drivingschool in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak was reported for deceivingtrainees.
According to initialfindings, staff said that the school was part of the Ministry of Transport andpromised to help all trainees pass their driving tests by paying between 6-10million VND (260-430 USD). Up to 400 people had enrolled in the school by thebeginning of 2019.
During Tet last year,from February 14 to 20, 2018, 168 people were killed in traffic accidents whileanother 37,200 were injured. The number rose sharply on the third and fourthdays of the New Year.-VNA
VNA
