Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is also the chairman of National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC), is in charge of directing relevant ministries and agencies in the co-ordination efforts on these measures during the last half of the year.

Phuc said that Remembrance Day aims to highlight the severity and consequences of traffic problems across the country, and to raise awareness of the public about the issue. NTSC will also start an assistance fund for the victims of road accidents.

The United Nations has set the third Sunday of November as the Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims. In Vietnam, the first city to recognise it was HCM City, last year.

The number of accidents in 2012 was reportedly reduced to 5,000 deaths and 18,000 accidents compared to 6,000 deaths and 23,000 accidents the year before. However, the deputy PM pointed out that there is significant headway to be made, particularly for passenger buses and trains.

Phuc also asked NTSC to co-operate with the Central Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front, Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union so as to discourage the use of alcohol during shifts or on breaks.

The Ministry of Transport was directed to improve the quality of driver's education and exams and reform the driving license approval system.

The ministry further requested that the quality of inspection and registration systems for water vessels be improved, bus transportation be more regulated and to make attempts to limit the rise in personal vehicles from now until the year 2020.

Dtnews