VietNamNet Bridge – In only three days, three terrific traffic accidents killed 16 people, injured more than 50 others. On June 9, a traffic accident also killed a famous Japanese archaeologist in Hanoi. Traffic accidents have become the biggest threat for Vietnamese people whenever they get out. What must we do to stop that hurt?

Many killed in traffic accidents in Quang Nam & Khanh Hoa

According to the Road - Railways Traffic Police Department, in the first week of June, up to 339 traffic accidents occurred, killing 151 people and injuring 232 others.

The most terrible accident occurred on the morning of June 7 in Khanh Hoa province, killing seven and injuring over 20 others.

Two days later, on June 9, a coach of Mai Linh firm was upturned on the National Highway 1A in Quang Nam Province, taking the life of three people and making 30 others injured.

The same day, in Long Dien District, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, a frozen truck collided with three motorcycles, resulted in six deaths on the spot.

According to the National Road Safety Commission, about 12,000 people die from traffic accidents year, equivalent to a platoon per day.

The number of catastrophic traffic accidents is increasing. Traffic accidents have become the biggest threat for people whenever they leave their house.

To curb accidents, the government spends over VND40 trillion ($2 billion) each year. Many workshops with a series of measures to reduce traffic accidents are held annually but despite the efforts of relevant agencies, this goal cannot be achieved.

The authorities have stressed three main factors to reduce traffic accidents: human, infrastructure and management. But so far, we have not seen many changes: roads are still deteriorated; drivers still run over speed; it is very easy to get a driving license...

In this situation, most recently, at an online national conference on traffic safety, Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham Quy Ngo proposed to increase the additional penalty - revoking driving licenses forever for drivers who seriously break the law, instead of withdrawing the driving license for up to two years.

Ngo said that 80 percent of traffic violations are caused by poor awareness of traffic participants. This idea received much sympathy from the people.

However, the Hanoi Transportation Association disagreed, saying that revoking the driving license forever is breaking the Penal Law. To apply this regulation, the National Assembly has to amend the law firstly.

VietNamNet opens a forum for reader suggestions for solutions to reduce traffic accidents. All comments should be sent to banxahoi@vietnamnet.vn or evn@vietnamnet.vn.

VNN