According to Huynh Trung Phong, head of the city Road and Railway Police Division, by the end of late July this year, HCM City had 8 million vehicles, including 650,000 cars, up 5.7% on-year. 

The city’s newly-registered vehicle number is estimated at roughly 30,000 per month with 15% of those being cars.

Phong added that the higher number of vehicles has added more pressures to traffic jams. Every day, traffic jams are reported in many areas of the city, particularly at roads to ports, schools and Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

He also blamed traffic congestion and accidents for people’s bad awareness. Pavement parking and illegal parking on streets have remained rampant.

Phong noted that his division will work with the municipal Department of Transport to deal with traffic at congestion spots across the southern metropolis.

The congestion spots include six in the centre, six near Tan Son Nhat International Airport, three at Cat Lai Port, eight at main routes into the city, and 14 in other areas.

The city is also accelerating the progress of two metro lines and one bus rapid transit project, along with the construction of new bus terminals in outlying areas in an attempt to reduce traffic jams.

So far this year, HCM City saw 2,100 traffic accidents, including 400 fatalities.

Dtinews