The Ministry of Transport was looking at handing out lifetime bans to dangerous drivers, said Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The at a conference held in Hanoi on Friday.

The scene of an accident where a container truck hit 21 motorbikes waiting at a red light in the southern province of Long An, killing four people and injuring at least 16 others. 

Speaking at the conference, The said that last year the country reduced the number of traffic accidents and injuries victims by five and 10 per cent, respectively.

The number of deaths fell only 0.4 per cent, well below the target, he said.

One of the main reasons was that drivers had ignored the law and even consumed alcohol or drugs before driving.

Most traffic accidents were the drivers’ fault, he said.

The ministry would focus more on training and issuing licences for drivers.

The country witnessed more than 18,700 traffic accidents last year, with more than 8,200 deaths and 14,800 injuries, according to the Ministry of Transport. — VNS