A pedestrian bridge on Chua Boc street in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The has orderedthe Directorate for Roads of Vietnam to review all pedestrian bridgesnationwide to prevent further accidents.
The move cameafter a truck driver high on drugs last week crashed into pedestrians walkingalong National Highway No.5 running through Kim Luong commune in Hai Duong province.Eight people were killed and seven others were injured.
The deadlyaccident occurred just 100m from a pedestrian bridge which connects Kim Thanh commune’svillages along the highway.
The area aroundthe bridge is an accident black spot. One person was killed just last month.
The stairsleading to the bridge are located right next to the highway. To reach thestaircase, pedestrians have no choice but have to walk on the highway wherecars travel at speeds of up to 80km per hour.
Staircases leading to suchbridges are supposed to be located far from the road and in residential areasto ensure safety for pedestrians.
The section ofNational Highway No.5 where the accident occurred runs through four villages ofKim Luong commune, home to about 4,000 people. Opposite the accident site are the Kim Luongprimary and secondary schools. Thousands of students walk on the highway toreach the pedestrian bridge every day.
According to VietnamInfrastructure Development and Finance Investment Joint Stock Company which isin charge of highway No.5’s management, there are 31 pedestrian bridges onNational Highway No.5 running through Hung Yen, Hai Duong provinces and Hai Phongcity.
AssociateProfessor Pham Xuan Mai, former head of the transport engineering faculty ofHCM City’s University of Science and Technology has said that the pedestrianbridge that leads directly to the car and motorbike lanes is locatedincorrectly and breaks the rules. This indirectly resulted in the accident thatkilled eight people in Hai Duong province.
It is very common in Vietnam tosee space for pedestrians encroached or ignored. The infrastructure investors,consultants and Ministry of Transport must be held responsible for the lack ofattention to pedestrian lanes. Relatives of the victims can file lawsuitsagainst irresponsible agencies, according to Mai.
Nguyen NgocLong, Vice President of the Vietnam Bridge and Road Association said in Vietnam,houses were built along the highway, especially National Highway No.1. This putpressure on traffic infrastructure and increased risks of accidents, he said.
"It isurgent for the transport ministry to review the network of pedestrian bridgesand tunnels and put up warning signs to prevent further accidents. Bridgeconstruction units that do not pay enough attention to pedestrian safety mustbe punished strictly," he said.
"For futureplanning, we should look to move residential areas far from highways."-VNS/VNA
VNA
