HÀ NỘI – A total of 55 traffic accidents occurred during the nationwide holiday, the National Traffic Safety Committee has reported.

On April 30 and May 1, traffic accidents killed 33 people and injured 53, the committee said.

On May 1 alone, there were 21 accidents, including railway mishaps, in which 12 people were killed and 20 were injured.

In addition, the traffic police dealt with more than 3,000 cases of traffic violations, collected fines amounting to nearly VND550 million (US$25,000) and seized seven cars and 487 motorbikes.

Sixty phone calls were made and SMS messages were sent to the committee’s hotline reporting traffic accidents and other disturbances during the holiday.

However, the number of traffic accidents dropped by 5 per cent compared with the same period last year, the committee said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee Trương Hòa Bình has asked the Ministry of Police, the Ministry of Transport, the traffic safety committees of provinces and cities and the relevant offices to take measures to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the coming days.

Speeding violations, drunk driving and those not wearing helmets will be strictly penalised.

Overloaded coaches that pick and drop people along the highways will have to pay hefty fines.

The traffic police have also been asked to ensure order to avoid congestion in the cities today and tomorrow with people returning to work, especially in Hà Nội and HCM City.

At toll collection stations on the highways, if lines extend up to 1km, toll collection will stop until the road is clear.

Businesses engaged in passenger transport must mobilise more vehicles at bus stations to transport people, the deputy PM said. -- VNS