Deputy Prime Minister Trưong Hòa Bình has asked localities and agencies to strictly enforce traffic regulations, particularly government Decree 46, to cut down on traffic accidents. — Photo VGP

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Trưong Hòa Bình has asked localities and agencies to strictly enforce traffic regulations, particularly government Decree 46, to cut down on traffic accidents.

Bình made the request at a meeting to review traffic safety in the first eight months of this year, held by the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) yesterday.

Việt Nam recorded 13,612 traffic accidents, 5,728 deaths and 11,781 injuries in the first eight months of this year, according to Khuất Việt Hùng, deputy chief of NTSC.

Compared to 2015, the figures have fallen by 6.9 per cent, 1.6 per cent and 18.5 per cent, respectively.

Drinking while driving was the main cause of traffic accidents and authorised agencies failed to check whether the drivers were under the influence of alcohol, the NTSC said

In August, 1,760 traffic accidents occurred nationwide, leaving 705 dead and 1,495 injured, a year-on-year increase of 7.8 per cent in the number of deaths.

Participants at the meeting blamed the rise in traffic accidents in August on loose management of transport services, transport infrastructure and mainland and waterway transport.

They also pointed to a lack of responsibility from officials and staff in transport management, calling it a major reason the situation had worsened.

Trần Kỳ Hình, head of the Việt Nam Register, said alcohol was the main reason for about 40 per cent of traffic accidents.

Under Decree 46/2016/NĐ-CP, which took effect from August, penalties for more than 100 traffic violations were stiffened.

Drivers with alcohol levels exceeding 80mg per 100ml of blood or 0.4 mg per liter of breath will be fined VND16-18 million (US$720-810), instead of VND10-15 million as before. Drivers who run yellow traffic lights will receive a fine similar to the fine for running red lights.

Statistics from the NTSC showed traffic police dealt with 137,100 traffic violations, withdrew more than 8,000 driving licences and seized nearly 15,7000 vehicles in the first month since the implementation of Decree 46. Total fines were estimated at VNĐ76 billion (US$3.4 million).

While recognising efforts made by ministries and departments to reduce traffic accidents, the deputy PM said the traffic situation in Việt Nam is still “complicated” and many violations such as modifying trucks to increase their capacity or overloading vehicles were still not penalized.

Bình ordered agencies and local authorities to strictly implement Decree 46 and continue its dissemination to raise people’s awareness of traffic regulations.

Bình asked the Ministry of Transport to set forth traffic safety projects and revise related legal documents.

The ministry was urged to tighten the management of transport services and vehicle capacity.

He emphasised the need to connect waterway transport and railway transport to reduce the burden on roads.

He also ordered the Ministry of Public Security to instruct local units to intensify dissemination to raise road safety awareness and strictly deal with violations like speeding, overloading and drink driving. -- VNS