VietNamNet Bridge – Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta, has implemented an initiative to reduce traffic accidents: placing traffic police dummies holding speed-measuring devices along dangerous roads to slow down drivers.

The twelve life-sized dummies were installed at crossroads, intersections and in crowded areas in the district of Thot Not about two months ago after the district ranked first across the city in number of traffic accidents in the first half of the year.

Nine traffic accidents killed 10 people and injured five in the first six months of the year in Thot Not District, according to statistics from the city's Traffic Safety Committee. This was between three and five times higher than in other districts.

The model has shown its effectiveness. Nguyen Van Tuan, who drives a car, said that he was driving fast in the wrong lane when he suddenly saw a dummy and, thinking it was a cop, slowed down.

Le Quoc Phong, a local resident, said the stretch of National Highway 91 in front of his house attracted many traffic accidents. Teenagers raced at night illegally along the street, he said. "But accidents have been reduced since the dummies were introduced," he added.

The dummies were installed as part of the city's program to educate and improve public awareness about obeying traffic rules. The city will hold a meeting to discuss the pilot program in Thot Not District before expanding it to the rest of the city.

Can Tho spent VND50 million (nearly $2,500) for the 12 dummy policemen.

Colonel Vu Van Dong, chief police officer of Thot Not District, said the policemen who were chosen as models for the dummies had to be tall and good-looking.

They were selected from the district’s traffic police team, including one lieutenant, one sub-lieutenant and one senior lieutenant-colonel.

This initiative has been highly appreciated by the city’s leaders and it will be implemented widely in Can Tho.

VNS/Zing/VNN