Basic HTML Version
timeout
13
reported. However, this is contradicted
in Vietnam, where the number of ac-
cidents has rocketed despite improve-
ments to the infrastructure.
It seems that in Vietnam some driv-
ers simply adapt their motorcycle driving
skills to driving their car, despite the rig-
orous testing procedure for new drivers.
Motorcyclists tend to ignore traffic
rules, claiming that they do not create
danger for other road users, but the
facts show this is not the case. Many car
and minivan drivers are under pressure
from their bosses to speed up and also
take as many as passengers as possible,
therefore safety is a secondary concern
at best.
Compounding the issue, car com-
pany owners hire just one driver to
cover extremely long hauls, flouting
a law stipulating that every car must
have two drivers to allow for alternating
shifts facilitating greater safety.
Another serious problem is drink
driving which is commonplace in Viet-
nam and still does not have any stigma
attached to it.
IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS
There have been some efforts to im-
prove safety, albeit with mixed results.
The Directorate for the Roads of
Vietnam, which provides road transpor-
tation consultancy for the Ministry of
Transport, last week proposed the Strat-
egy for Road Traffic Safety under which
deaths in road accidents will be brought
down from 13 in 100,00 people to 8 per
100,000 by 2020.
The plan, which calls for invest-
ment of VND15.9 trillion ($763 mil-
lion), also envisages that by 2020, 80
per cent of the national highways will
meet higher safety criteria and public
transport systems will be improved in
major cities.
Meanwhile, Minister of Transport,
Dinh La Thang, also asked for stricter
control over the operation of coaches
and heavy trucks to prevent traffic ac-
cidents. The call was made following
a series of serious traffic accidents
which have caused a great deal of
public concern.
Thang instructed relevant agen-
cies to look in detail at the issuing
of driving licences. Furthermore, he
wants heavier punishments for those
who violate traffic laws, including the
operating of coaches which are more
than 15 years old.
Thang asked the ministry’s Legal
Department to tighten transport busi-
ness conditions.
He also instructed relevant agen-
cies to study proposed regulations over
the legal driving age and conditions
needed for coaches and trucks to oper-
ate at night.
Inspections of transport businesses
will be strengthened and violations will
lead to licences being revoked, while driv-
ing training centres that break the rules
will be permanently shut down, he said.
Speaking with the press on the is-
sue on the sidelines of the National
Assembly meeting, Deputy Prime Minis-
ter, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, said it was es-
sential to increase awareness of traffic
safety among drivers, vehicle owners
and transport businesses.
Phuc stressed the importance of
re-organising traffic and installing cam-
eras to identify violations.
Regulations are also necessary on
the operation time of coach drivers and
the responsibility of drivers and trans-
port businesses, he said.
Meanwhile, chief of the Secretariat
of the National Traffic Safety Commit-
tee, Nguyen Trong Thai, said that the
committee had built a plan to tighten
control over speed limits nationwide for
two months, starting from July 1.
What is more, Prime Minister Nguy-
en Tan Dung has signed a directive to
tightly control businesses, driver train-
ing and the granting of driving licenses.
Directive 12 aims to strengthen the
implementation of urgent measures to
prevent traffic accidents nationwide.
It is hoped that all of the efforts
made by the government will help make
the streets both safer and more enjoy-
able for both Vietnamese and the many
foreigners who use them each year.
BOILING POINT