Traffic deaths rise in Q1

The country saw more than 4,600 traffic accidents in three first months this year, down by 139 cases compared with the same period last year, the National Traffic Safety announced yesterday.

HÀ NỘI — While the number of traffic accidents on Vietnamese roads decreased in the first quarter of this year, fatalities rose.

The country saw more than 4,600 traffic accidents in three first months this year, down by 139 cases compared with the same period last year, the National Traffic Safety announced yesterday.

However, the accidents killed more than 2,100 people and injured 3,600 others, an increase by 35 and decrease by 208 compared with last year, respectively.

Most of the accidents were caused by drivers encroaching other lanes. Other problems included speeding, poor driver observation, unsafe vehicles, unsafe construction work, drunk driving and violating traffic rules and signs.

Some 84.7 per cent of road traffic accidents were caused by men. More than 49 per cent of those involved were aged between 27 and 55, and about five per cent of them were under 18.

Many accidents occurred between 6pm and midnight.

Khuất Việt Hùng, standing deputy chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee, said that during the first three months this year, ensuring traffic safety in rural areas did not receive enough attention.

Moreover, some drivers were not aware of following traffic safety regulations, said Hùng.

In the period, 32 provinces and cities saw less people killed in traffic accidents, including An Giang, Thái Nguyên and Kon Tum.

A total of 27 provinces and cities saw an increase in deaths, including Cà Mau, Tây Ninh, Cao Bằng and Hậu Giang.

The country also saw 23 large traffic jams, an increase by eight compared with the same period last year. — LV