More traffic police will be assigned to prevent traffic congestion and accidents during upcoming new year holidays. — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tuấn

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has ordered ministries and localities to ensure road safety during the coming holidays.

In the message, PM Phúc said demand for travel would increase during the holidays, including the calendar New Year, Lunar New Year and spring festivals, which meant greater risk of traffic congestion and accidents.

To ensure traffic order and safety for people to enjoy the holidays, the PM asked the National Committee for Traffic Safety, provincial and municipal People’s Committees and ministries and agencies to guide and take measures.

Ministries and localities needed to improve transportation capacity and service quality to meet public demand for travel during the holidays. They should closely manage coaches, terminals, stations and airports to reduce traffic jams, delays and illegal price hikes, the PM said.

Transport businesses were asked to strictly abide by regulations on transport business and traffic safety, ensuring the safety of their vehicles.

Increased inspections should be made to punish traffic regulation violators during the holidays. Fines will be applied for speeding, drunk driving, vehicles driving over capacity, riding motorbikes without wearing helmets, racing motorbikes illegally and overloaded trucks and coaches.

Inspections will be strengthened at airports, railway stations and ship and bus stations.  

The PM also asked for regulating traffic lanes and adjust traffic flows on key and high-vehicle routes and strengthen safety measures at places with high rates of accidents.

Ministries and agencies were instructed to raise public awareness of traffic safety regulations.

Traffic situations, particularly along key routes, will be updated via various means of communications.

The PM asked ministries and local authorities to check transport infrastructure and fix and upgrade damaged or deteriorated roads as well as install more signals and warning signs along routes with high risks of traffic accidents.

The Ministry of Health was told to prepare medical equipment, staff and materials to ensure the highest capacity in treating traffic accident victims during the holidays.

Hotlines to receive traffic complaints should be widely publicised, the PM said. — VNS