HCM CITY –HCM City has set a target of reducing the number of traffic accidents and casualties by 5-10 per cent each year in 2019 and 2020. 

At a meeting held on March 22 to review the traffic situation last year and outline safety plans for this year, Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of the city People’s Committee, said related agencies should take steps to reduce the number of deaths in accidents.

They should focus on efforts to improve people’s awareness of the need to abide by traffic laws.

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

The city Traffic Safety Committee will set up an inspection team to ensure all transport operators comply with traffic safety requirements and laws.

Though city authorities have cracked down on overloaded cargo vehicles and unregistered buses, the results have been modest.

The People’s Committee and Inspectorate will also periodically check management and inspection agencies to ensure they are doing their jobs properly.

The police, Departments of Transport and Health and district people’s committees have been instructed to carry out regular patrols and throw the book at people violating traffic laws.

The Traffic Safety Sub-committee, Department of Transport, police, and other relevant agencies have been ordered to draw up a comprehensive plan for improving traffic safety this year.

Nguyễn Ngọc Tường, deputy chief of the Traffic Safety Committee, said last year the city suffered 3,618 traffic accidents in which 694 people died and 2,157 others were injured.

They were down 10.5 per cent, 4 per cent and 28.8 per cent from 2017, he said.

"But traffic jams are still a regular occurrence, especially when there are heavy rains and flooding, though they do not last longer than 30 minutes", he said.VNS