Traffic police nation-wide will begin a two-month-long campaign to ensure traffic safety and social order for the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

This was revealed by the Department of Traffic Police under the Ministry of Public Security on Friday.

The campaign will be on from December 16 to February 15.

Traffic police will mobilise their force to implement this campaign, focusing on National Highway 1A from northern Lạng Sơn Province to southernmost Ca Mau Province. Specific locations where traffic accidents occur often, will also be heavily patrolled.

Traffic police will crack down on drunk driving and order tests to determine alcohol levels in the driver’s blood. Those who violate traffic laws, such as speeding, driving in the wrong lane, carrying more people than allowed and riding without helmets, will be strictly fined.

Traffic police will also implement measures to prevent illegal racing and minimise traffic jams during the holiday.

At the railroads, traffic police will cooperate with authorised forces to supervise illegal railroad crossings to prevent accidents and deter smuggling of banned goods, such as explosives and firecrackers, on trains.

This campaign will also be undertaken to ensure smooth traffic flow on the waterways, focusing on vessels transporting goods and natural resources on key routes and vessels transporting people to tourism sites.

The National Traffic Safety Committee last year reported that 160 people were killed and 248 injured in 253 road accidents during the six days of the Lunar New Year holiday from February 7 to 12. There were 57 road accidents, which killed 37 people and injured 65, on February 10 alone. Several serious accidents involving a large number of fatalities and injuries were also reported. – VNS