The ongoing rise in traffic accidents in HCMC is attributable not only to drivers violating traffic rules but also to inadequate infrastructure that has failed to accommodate the growth in traffic, authorities have said. 

The ongoing rise in traffic accidents in HCMC is attributable not only to drivers violating traffic rules but also to inadequate infrastructure

Deputy head of the HCMC Traffic Safety Committee Nguyen Ngoc Tuong was quoted by Lao Dong newspaper as saying that traffic accidents surged between January and May, particularly in the city’s gateway areas, including the outlying districts of Binh Tan and Binh Chanh. These areas accounted for 30% of vehicle crashes during the period.

The year’s first four months saw 240 fatalities from traffic accidents, but only seven were recorded in May.

According to Chairman of Binh Tan District Le Van Thinh, 23 traffic accidents occurred in the district in the January-April period, leaving 24 dead. These incidents were mainly the result of drivers failing to observe traffic rules. In addition, Binh Tan acts as the western gateway of HCMC, has seen rapid urbanization, and has high population density and many of its roads suffer traffic jams, all of which typically lead to road accidents.

Meanwhile, Binh Chanh District recorded 51 traffic accidents, with 52 people killed in the January-April period, according to the district’s chairman, Tran Phu Lu, as reported by Lao Dong newspaper.

Binh Chanh has failed in its efforts to lower the number of accidents, fatalities and injured victims by 5% against the same period last year.

As for the city’s eastern gateways in Districts 2 and 9, many of the roads, such as the streets of Do Xuan Hop and Nguyen Duy Trinh, are narrow and have to support large trucks.

Vice chairman of District 9 Hoang Minh Tuan Anh said the condition of the roads has deteriorated though some are being repaired, and a number of roads do not have sidewalks.

According to Anh, Nguyen Duy Trinh Street, which leads to Phu Huu Port and is one of the roads linking HCMC to the eastern provinces, sees heavy traffic from large trucks. In addition, the district is home to several container storage zones, which has led to a rise in traffic volume, particularly for heavy trucks.

In District 2, the traffic situation is complicated due to poor compliance with traffic regulations and large volumes of trucks passing through the Cai Lai Port area, the deputy head of District 2’s traffic safety unit, Huynh Van Tam, said.

According to the traffic safety unit of District 9, wards have been ordered to inspect parking areas for trucks and impose fines on violations of truck load limits. The district has also acted to raise public awareness of traffic safety, enhanced inspections and proposed the HCMC Traffic Safety Committee should install surveillance cameras on roads where accidents often take place, such as Nguyen Duy Trinh, Do Xuan Hop, Hoang Huu Nam and Nguyen Xien.

Bui Xuan Cuong, director of the HCMC Department of Transport, said the department plans to adopt traffic management solutions and invest in activities to organize traffic in a bid to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities.

Tuong of the HCMC Traffic Safety Committee said accident-prone areas should be fixed quickly, adding that traffic incidents at the An Suong and My Thuy intersections have dropped after tunnels were introduced to these areas. He also called for all districts to diversify activities aimed at increasing traffic safety awareness among the public, rather than limiting themselves to putting up safety banners and posters.

SGT