The scene of a severe accident in Tuyên Quang Provincie between a sleeper bus and a container truck resulting in five fatalities. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Cường

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnam Road Administration has issued a directive to various stakeholders to enhance the management, maintenance and safety of road networks amid increasing traffic accidents on certain routes.  

The directive emphasises the need for proactive measures to identify and deal with potential hazards on the roads, such as accident-prone areas and traffic organisation issues. 

It comes just days after five people were killed in a collision between a sleeper bus and a container truck in the northern province of Tuyên Quang on Tuesday.

The fatal accident occurred at around 1.40am on National Highway 2 in the province’s Yên Sơn District, when the sleeper bus was travelling into Tuyên Quang from neighbouring Hà Giang Province and the truck was driving in the opposite direction.

As stated in the directive, contractors are urged to swiftly implement projects aimed at eliminating these risks, ensuring both timely completion and quality. Furthermore, the administration calls for innovative solutions and improved project planning to address underlying factors contributing to accidents. 

They stress the importance of assessing existing infrastructure and providing recommendations for enhancement.

To address infrastructure issues and traffic organisation problems, road management agencies, investors, and maintenance contractors need to take corrective actions. 

Concerning traffic order and safety issues caused by illegal encroachments on road shoulders, sidewalks, or safety lanes, road management units, Transport Departments, must take decisive steps. 

They should formally request district-level People's Committees to enforce removal of the violations if the offenders refuse to comply.

The Vietnam Road Administration is sounding the alarm, calling on all units to ramp up their efforts in inspecting, maintaining roads, and patrolling to swiftly tackle traffic issues and revamp traffic organisation.

Relevant agencies are also urged to ensure regular maintenance, clear up roadsides, and optimise road markings while keeping an eye on visibility-blocking trees. 

They're also tasked with promptly fixing road damages like potholes, cracks, and ensuring proper installation of safety measures like speed bumps, signs, and signal lights. — VNS