HCM CITY — As many as 1,300 people took part in a launching ceremony for the Traffic Safety Year campaign held on Friday in HCM City.

This year’s campaign theme is “Ensuring Traffic Safety for Passengers and Motorbike Drivers”, with the slogan “Value Human Life Above All Else.”

The campaign includes year-long activities to raise public awareness about the importance of observing traffic rules on roads and waterways.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, the deputy chairman of the city People’s Committee, Trần Vĩnh Tuyến, said the city was determined to reduce the number of traffic accidents, traffic-related deaths, and injuries by 5 per cent compared to last year, and would try to limit traffic jams to no more than 30 minutes.

A total of 3,618 traffic accidents occurred in 2018, killing 694 people and injuring 2,175 others, representing a year-on-year decrease of 10.53 per cent, 4.01 per cent and 28.81 per cent, respectively.

The city’s Department of Transport installed 46 propaganda boards, 173 traffic signs, 10 safety warning signs, and 58 propaganda banners on roads with high traffic density and a high rate of traffic accidents.

Tuyến called on locals, especially Government cadres, employees and civil servants, to improve their sense of responsibility and self-awareness about traffic order and safety.

“We also need to crack down on illegal passenger bus services and stations, and ensure road order and clear pavements.”

Traffic police and traffic inspection forces have been told to be especially vigilant during Tết (Lunar New Year) holidays and Lễ hội Xuân (Spring festival) in the city, he said.

After the ceremony, local traffic police units, police units and relevant agencies from all districts paraded throughout the city on motorbikes and cars hung with safety traffic slogans. — VNS