Traffic congestion on a section of National Highway No 1.— VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — A total of 122 people were killed in traffic accidents, while 150 others were injured, during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holidays between January 24 and 29 nationwide.

The number of deaths represented an increase of about 7 per cent, while the number of injured people fell by nearly 16 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Traffic accidents mainly occurred on the road, with only one accident reported on waterways, causing one death. There were no reports of rail accidents.

Also during the holidays, traffic police dealt with 2,298 violations relating to drink driving throughout the country.

To minimise traffic accidents and ensure traffic safety at the end of the Tết holidays and New Year festivals, the Ministry of Public Security has ordered the heads of police departments in provinces and cities to take drastic measures to prevent traffic congestion and accidents on roads that lead to festival sites.  

Traffic police were told to focus on preventing traffic congestion at toll booths and gateways to major cities including Hà Nội and HCM City, the ministry said.

In other localities, traffic police were required to patrol major traffic routes, especially national highways and expressways, to deal with drink driving, driving in the wrong lane, driving without helmets and carrying more people than permitted, the ministry said.

On inland waterways, safety conditions for passengers must be checked, especially in areas with rivers where festivals were taking place.

Additionally, traffic police departments in localities had to process complaints on violations relating to traffic congestion and carrying more passengers than permitted, the ministry said.

Serious traffic congestion was reported on a section of Pháp Vân-Cầu Giẽ Expressway heading to the centre of Hà Nội on Tuesday afternoon, said Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Quang Nhật, head of the ministry’s Traffic Police Department.

Nhật said the department had dispatched a team to direct vehicles to go to intersections of Thường Tín and Vạn Điểm to reduce jams.—VNS