The number of road traffic accidents, traffic-related deaths and injuries in Việt Nam dropped in the first eight months of this year, compared with the same period last year, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee.— Photo plo.vn

HÀ NỘI — The number of road traffic accidents, traffic-related deaths and injuries in Việt Nam dropped in the first eight months of this year, compared with the same period last year, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee.

Statistics from the committee showed that about 11,782 road accidents were reported nationwide, killing 5,366 people and injuring about 9,200 others.

The number of traffic accidents was 7.77 per cent lower than that of last year, while the number of deaths and injuries dropped by 1.03 per cent and 12.66 per cent, respectively.

In August alone, there were 1,432 accidents, killing 650 people and wounding 1,094 others, down 10.67 per cent, 1.66 per cent and 15.72 per cent, respectively, against the same period last year.

The National Traffic Safety Committee has urged ministries, agencies, leaders of provinces and cities to enforce measures to ensure traffic safety and reduce traffic accidents and congestion during the National Day holiday (from September 1-3).

The committee has also announced hotlines to receive feedback from local residents about transport activities and traffic safety and order during the holiday.

Accordingly, people can call the Traffic Safety Committee Office via phone: 0989.088.719 or the Traffic Safety Committee Department via 0977.497.891. They could contact Vietnam Railways via 0985367565 or send feedback on issues related to the aviation sector on 0916.562.1195.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc issued a directive ordering the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies to take urgent action to ensure road traffic safety.

The Ministry of Public Security was assigned to direct traffic police nationwide to patrol 24 hours a day to inspect and deal with traffic violations on major national highways and roads with high traffic density.

The Hà Nội People’s Committee has directed the Department of Transport and related agencies to be ready to cope with the growing demand of passengers during National Day.

Nguyễn Anh Toàn, director of Hà Nội Coach Station Joint Stock Company said the number of passengers was expected to increase considerably on Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and Monday afternoon but the company would meet the high demand. Specifically, Giáp Bát Bus Station planned to add 115 more coaches while Gia Lâm Bus Station and Mỹ Đình Bus Station expected to add 45 and 140 more, respectively.

The company has asked bus stations to coordinate with transport agencies to make plans for increasing the number of coaches in case of need.

Phùng Thị Lý Hà, deputy general director of Hanoi Railway Transport Joint Stock Company said there would be 140 trains on operation during the National Day holiday.

Travel demand is expected to increase during the three-day holiday but the fares would not be hiked, she said, adding that more carriages would be added if necessary.

A representative from Saigon Railways said 30 more trains would be operated from HCM City to Phan Thiết, Nha Trang, Quy Nhơn, Quảng Ngãi and vice versa, bringing the number of seats to 47,000.

In the meantime, the price of fares on additional carriages on the Sài Gòn-Nha Trang route and vice versa would be reduced by 10-20 per cent compared to normal days. — VNS