VietNamNet Bridge – A total of 222 people were killed and 185 injured in road and railway accidents across the country in the first week of this month despite the police effort to control it.

An average of 35 accidents happened each day, killing an average of 32 people, compared to 29 and 25 respectively in the previous week. (Photo: VNN)
Road and Railway Traffic Police Department figures show there were 236 road and 12 railway accidents in the period.

An average of 35 accidents happened each day, killing an average of 32 people, compared to 29 and 25 respectively in the previous week.

Traffic police across the country punished more than 88,200 people for traffic rules violations, including 11,200 for failing to wear a helmet in the period. The police also impounded 156 vehicles and 10,777 motorbikes.

More traffic police were put on patrol in eight provinces across the country including Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Thua Thien-Hue and Khanh Hoa.

Nguyen Dang Sinh, deputy head of the department's Strategy Division, outlined some reasons of the increased accidents.

A great number of university students began their new school year this month, and the hot weather made them and other people hesitate to wear helmets, he said.

Some roads and highways, especially the ones in rural areas, were being upgraded and were perhaps less safe due to the construction, he added. Sinh proposed some measures to the department in order to reduce accidents in the future.

"The Youth Union plays an important role in disseminating traffic rules to reduce the number of accidents, since most accidents involve young people," said Sinh.

Traffic rules should be included in Youth Union meetings in the form of short plays or leaflets, he said.

The division would ask city and provincial police to set up a list of "hot spots" of accidents and assign more police to supervise those areas.

The department would join hands with relevant bodies to perform checks and suspend expired automobiles.

Police across the country will focus their energies on vehicles that often cause serious accidents such as lorries, containers and trucks.

Police going on patrol at night would also be urged to prevent motorcycle racing, said Sinh.

"But the most important and effective measure is that all residents should raise their awareness when travelling," he said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News