Traffic accidents soar in Vietnam
HANOI - The number of traffic accidents in Vietnam has
increased with a fast rate, causing great losses of lives and property to the country.
In the first five months of this year alone, 12,006 traffic accidents occurred
nationwide, killing and injuring 5,250 people, according to Vietnam's National
Committee for Traffic Safety (NCTS)here Wednesday.
The NCTS said the increase in traffic accidents was mostly due to drivers'
violations of traffic rules, poor state management, and ineffective coordination
between concerned ministries and sectors in implementation of traffic safety
measures.
Although the NCTS receives large budget allocation, the committee has only
invested the money in raising public awareness about traffic safety while failing to
take effective measures to prevent accidents.
Vietnam now has about 600,000 motor vehicles and over 9.2 million motorbikes,
but only 50 percent of the motorbike owners have driving licences. Worse still, of
about 100 driving schools currently in operation, more than 20 have been suspended
because of their poor facilities.
Xinhuanet - June 19, 2002.
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