Authorities will inspect operationsat coach terminals and transport enterprises during the long holiday tostop buses overloading passengers and inflating prices.
Theholidays, from April 28-May 3, observe three holidays - the HungKings' Festival, National Reunification Day (April 30) and Labour Day(May 1).
According to Khuat Viet Hung, Deputy Chairman of thecommittee, agencies and authorities have been told to ensure trafficsafety during the holiday as millions of people are expected to travelto their hometowns from the major cities.
The Government has instructed all sectors to allocate enough staff to inspect and patrol.
"Passengersmust know they can refuse to travel in unsafe vehicles and should buytickets at stations instead of jumping onto buses on the road," he said.
Hungsaid the committee will coordinate with authorities immediately ifthere are complaints about overloading, drug taking or other illegalpractices.
Two hundred and twenty-four traffic accidents occurrednationwide during last year's big holiday period, leaving 117 peopledead and 151 injured, the Vietnam National Traffic Safety Committeesaid.
Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the My Dinh Bus Station inHanoi, said the number of passengers was expected to increase by 30 to50 percent during the holidays. The station has allocated 400 extrabuses to meet the peak travel time demand.
The station has planned to add 150 buses on routes from Hanoi-Thanh Hoa, Hanoi-Nam Dinh and Hanoi-Thai Binh.
Thenumber of traffic accidents often rises during holiday periods due tothe increased number of people driving under the influence of alcohol.
Some of the hotline numbers for filing complaints: 0916608085, 0913432383, 0917908085, 043845188.
TheMinistry of Transport has instructed the Ho Chi Minh City Department ofTransport to regulate traffic to ensure safety and security especiallyat bus stations during the long holidays when celebrations for the 40thanniversary of Reunification Day (April 30) will be held.
Transportoperators and bus stations are required to keep an eye on buses leavingstations to prevent overloading and other problems.
Buses and taxis have been warned not to cause traffic jams while dropping and picking up passengers.
Meanwhile,the department has blocked off certain streets in the downtown areawhere the celebrations are scheduled to be held. People have to takealternative routes to circumvent the cordoned-off area.-VNA