A national online conference reviews traffic safety. — Photo baogiaothong.vn

HÀ NỘI — In light of recent data on traffic accidents, Minister of Transport Nguyễn Văn Thắng urged officials to "be persistent and more determined" in ensuring solutions to traffic safety.

In the first 9 months of 2023, there were 8,335 traffic accidents nationwide, resulting in 4,765 fatalities and 5,802 injuries. Compared to the same period in 2022, the number of accidents decreased by 90 cases (1.07 per cent) and there were 60 fewer fatalities (1.24 per cent), but there was an increase of 216 injuries (3.87 per cent).

This information was provided during a national online conference to review traffic safety work for the first 9 months and outline the direction and tasks for the fourth quarter of 2023, held on Tuesday morning in Hà Nội.

Thắng, who is also deputy chairman of the National Council for Traffic Safety, said that traffic safety had seen positive data during recent years, thanks to the efforts of the Government as well as local authorities.

However, serious traffic accidents still occurred in many places. For example, an accident in Đồng Nai Province resulting in the deaths of 5 people was attributed to the lack of traffic awareness by the involved parties, after a truck encroached into the wrong lane leading to a horrific accident. Another tragedy occurred in Hà Giang involving two motorcycles, resulting in the deaths of 3 students.

Public awareness of traffic laws and regulations was still low, and some violations had not been thoroughly addressed. Therefore, in the coming time, it was necessary to be more persistent and determined in ensuring solutions for traffic safety, the Minister emphasised, requesting clear analysis of the causes and responsibilities of relevant parties in ensuring traffic safety.

Together with the experiences and practices of ensuring traffic safety in various agencies and localities, additional feasible solutions should be proposed to contribute to reducing traffic accidents.

The Minister asked the conference to focus on discussing two issues that had caused concern recently.

Firstly, activities to ensure traffic safety in commercial transport vehicles must clarify where weaknesses were, whether in legal regulations or in enforcement. If the weaknesses were in enforcement, it should be clarified at which level the functions and tasks had not been clearly defined.

Secondly, the phenomenon of underage teenagers without a motorcycle driving licence causing traffic accidents in some localities must be addressed.

Traffic accidents controlled and reduced

According to Khuất Việt Hùng, Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee, traffic accidents continued to be controlled and reduced compared to the same period in 2022 in terms of the number of incidents and fatalities.

The number of accidents caused by driving under the influence (DUI) during peak times decreased significantly compared to previous years.

The results of handling DUI violations had been reported by many newspapers, broadcasters and social media platforms, and had received support from the public.

In addition, the number of traffic jams during peak periods had been reduced compared to the same period in 2022 after implementing nationwide non-stop toll collection. Violations related to overloading of vehicles and modifications to vehicle structures in certain localities had been addressed fundamentally.

Hùng also acknowledged shortcomings in traffic safety, especially in the number and impact of traffic accidents, as well as a rise in resistance against traffic police officials.

The Deputy Chairman of the NTSC attributed these situations to lack of awareness and compliance from people, and the abuse of alcohol or substances while driving.

Some local authorities and police officials still had incorrect or insufficient awareness and lacked determination in their guidance.

The effectiveness of law enforcement on traffic safety in some units and localities was still limited, and coordination among agencies and forces in ensuring traffic safety was sometimes not tight, especially in inspecting compliance with traffic safety regulations by commercial transport businesses. Funding for traffic safety work was also limited.

Regarding the directions and tasks for the fourth quarter of 2023, Hùng emphasised that authorities should focus on implementing solutions to achieve the objectives set by the Party, National Assembly and Government, which are to reduce traffic accidents in all three criteria: the number of accidents, the number of fatalities and the number of injuries, by at least 5 per cent compared to 2022. — VNS