The National Traffic Safety Committee in co-ordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam held a press conference in Hanoi on April 15 to announce the Resolution A/RES/70/260 of the United Nations General Assembly on Improving the Global Safety and the action plan of Vietnam.

The resolution acknowledged the importance of reaching the road safety-related targets, such as target 3.6, which aims to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2020, and target 11.2, which aims to provide, by 2030, access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons.

According to the NTSC, in recent years, Vietnam has been implementing drastic actions to minimise traffic accidents, such as forcing motorbike users to wear helmets and banning people from driving motorbikes or cars under the influence of alchohol, receivingappreciation from the international community.

Vietnam aims to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by traffic accidents by between 5-10% this year, lower the number of serious traffic accidents on railways and inland waterways, and ease traffic congestion in big cities, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The country has witnessed remarkable decreases in the number of traffic accidents, facilities and injuries from 2012 to 2014.

In 2015, the number of traffic accidents, injuries and deaths dropped 51%, 60% and 24%, respectively, compared with four years earlier.

Nhan Dan