Traffic safety month brings little relief
HCM CITY — Seventy-six people were killed and 25 others injured in 81 road accidents in HCM City in September, one month after the city administration launched a traffic safety programme.

The number of accidents was down by just four compared to a year earlier but the number of deaths increased by nine, according to the city Traffic Safety Board.

Speaking at a meeting held by the city People's Committee on Tuesday to review the traffic safety month, Nguyen Ngoc Tuong, deputy head of the city Traffic Safety Board, said the city's traffic situation remained chaotic.

Illegal racing at night and violations by drivers and pedestrians were still common, he said.

During the month, relevant authorities carried out several measures to raise awareness on traffic safety among the public – like distributing leaflets and putting up posters at public places about traffic safety.

They also popularised traffic "culture" among youth, alcohol and traffic safety, and putting on helmets for children.

The major reason for accidents was the poor awareness of drivers, the board said.

Colonel Ngo Minh Chau, deputy director of the city police, said the city should consider pushing up the campaign against drink driving at restaurants and beer shops since many people drove after drinking at these places.

Tran Quang Phuong, director of the Department of Transport, said the traffic police and the People's Committee should be tougher on traffic offences.

The remaining three months of the year should also be treated as traffic safety months, he said.

Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the People's Committee, ordered the police to keep a closer eye on traffic and punish violations, and acquire more breath testers, speed guns, and other equipment.

He called on districts to install more traffic lights and signs as well as cameras on streets.

He ordered relevant agencies to continue disseminating information on traffic safety to reduce the number of fatalities during the rest of the year.

In the first nine months there were 750 road accidents in the city in which 639 people died and 343 others were injured.

The number of accidents was down by 14 from last year, but the number of fatalities was up by the same number. — VNS

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