PM orders increase in traffic safety level

HA NOI — In response to a recent increase in deadly accidents involving unskilled drivers and unsafe vehicles, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked concerned agencies to step up traffic safety measures.

A coach accident killed 34 people and injured 21 others last month in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, with the accident attributed to the driver speeding and losing control. Five accidents in Ha Noi last month alone were blamed on the driver failing to differentiate the car's brake pedal from the throttle.

Statistics of the National Traffic Safety Committee showed that in the first five months of this year, nearly 4,000 people died and another 3,500 were injured in 4,500 reported accidents.

Dung has therefore asked provincial and municipal leaders to assign relevant authorities to make regular patrols of traffic hot spots and bus stations to detect violations which increase the dangers of accidents, including vehicle overloading, drunk driving and speeding. He also asked the Ministry of Public Security to improve its equipment and allocate more personnel to enforcing traffic laws.

He assigned the Ministry of Transport to improve signage in problem areas and boost vehicle inspections to ensure compliance with safety regulations and that drivers are properly trained and licensed.

To minimise the number of unskilled drivers, the Directorate of Roads earlier began a project to improve driver training and testing, with required traffic safety classes. — VNS