HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Transport has carried out a number of measures this year to ensure traffic order and safety at schools and universities.

Since the beginning of school year, traffic congestion has increased at schools on Phan Văn Trị Street, Quang Trung Street and Trường Chinh Street, especially during peak hours.  

The department is finalising construction on an overpass near Thông Tây Hội Secondary School in Gò Vấp District, and also plans to build more overpasses near schools located in crowded areas like Văn Hiến University in District 12.

In addition, Urban Traffic Management No 3 has proposed adding more barriers to prevent vehicles from travelling on walkways, and more traffic lights and signals as well as median strips.

Phạm Ngọc Dũng, head of Urban Traffic Management No 3, said the plans would be adjusted according to the characteristics of each area.

Since the beginning of the year, the department has organised three traffic safety campaigns in schools.

This month, the Department of Transport will disseminate information about traffic order and safety to students at Võ Thị Sáu Primary School in Gò Vấp District and Nguyễn An Ninh Secondary School in District 12.

In addition, the city’s Department of Education and Training has encouraged teachers and students to use buses instead of private vehicles.

Bùi Thị Diễm, deputy head of the city’s Department of Education and Training, has asked the city’s People’s Council to offer free bus tickets to students.

Nguyễn Thị Quyết Tâm, head of the city People’s Council, has directed the city’s departments of Finance and Transport to study this proposal.

The city aims to increase the number of students using buses by 15-20 per cent by 2020. — VNS