Traffic police at the launch ceremony of the Road Traffic Safety Year 2021 held on Tuesday. VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

HÀ NỘI — Traffic accidents and traffic jams have remained problematic for society, affecting the economic, cultural, social development of Việt Nam, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee Trương Hoà Bình has said.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of the Road Traffic Safety Year 2021 yesterday, Bình said 2020 was the year with the lowest number of traffic accidents in the past 10 years.

The number of traffic accidents had decreased by nearly 18 per cent compared to average, while the number of injured people had decreased by nearly 20 per cent.

For the first time, the number of deaths due to traffic accidents decreased to less than 7,000 people in the year which saw fewer people on the roads due to social distancing and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notably, in the first three days of this year, traffic accidents decreased by nine cases and deaths by 16 compared to those of last year.

Bình said many political events would take place this year, including the 13th National Congress of the Party, the election of the 15th National Assembly and the People's Councils at all levels.

The committee has focused on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement to ensure traffic safety, targeting to decrease the number of traffic accidents and fatalities by between 5 and 10 per cent compared to last year and solving traffic congestion in big cities.

Bình has asked all levels and sectors to enhance the dissemination of traffic safety laws for people, strengthen supervisions and fight against wrongdoings of agencies in managing traffic safety and order, and applying high technology in organising and managing traffic.

Bình has required ministries and sectors and localities to prepare plans for the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, with safety the priority.

He also said the inspection and control of the market to effectively prevent smuggling, trade fraud must be implemented. — VNS