New roads, old traffic safety problems

A number of highways have been opened for public use recently, benefiting the country’s socio-economic development. But ensuring traffic safety along these roads is difficult due to drivers’ low level of awareness and slack infrastructure management, transport experts say.

  • Hải Phòng eases ban on National Highway No 5
  • Hai Phong Police help to remove oil leak on National Highway

Vietnam has 13 highway routes with a total length of 745km. Traffic accidents on highways made up about 13% of total road accidents, but were much more serious than most others.

The latest serious accident occurred on the Hanoi – Haiphong Highway recently when a tanker transporting oil crashed into a semi-lorry, killing two people. The semi-lorry had stopped on the shoulder to change a tyre, but it encroached a little into the driving lane, according to the highway managers.

Tran Anh Tu, Director of the Hanoi-Haiphong Highway Management Board, said that the board had banned highway stops except for unavoidable technical reasons, but many drivers stop on the side lane to rest instead of at the designated rest stations.

In addition, about 50% of car breakdowns were repaired on the highways by their owners, incurring serious risk of accidents, he said.

According to the highway code, drivers must call a repair service if their cars break down, said Tu. If they cannot call one and they try to solve the problem by themselves, they must use warning signals.

As many as 80% of traffic accidents on highways were caused by drivers lack of concentration and loss of control through speeding, according to the Transport and Development Strategy Institute.

Le Van Dat, an expert from the Transport and Development Strategy Institute, said traffic accidents stem not only from drivers’ low awareness of safety issues, but also because services along the highways do not meet real demand.

Only 10 stopping stations were set up along 13 highway routes for drivers to relax, fuel up and fix breakdowns. The Hanoi-Haiphong road does not have a single stop station.

Several investors applied intelligent transportation systems (ITS) in managing highways on five routes, but the application only checks transport conditions and protects the investors’ infrastructure, said Dat.

Other transport experts are concerned about health problems.

In 2013, then Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved a project on traffic accident emergency assistance along highways by 2020, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health. But the project has not been implemented. In addition, many medical stations are too far from accident scenes, resulting in delayed aid.

VNA

Other News

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Under the plan, all central and local media outlets are required to launch columns on the campaign, maintain regular coverage, and produce at least five to seven in-depth reports each month in key search areas. Media agencies will also be encouraged to gather and verify valuable information and develop high-quality products in both Vietnamese and foreign languages, including feature articles, documentaries, reports and short videos.

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed confidence that the establishment will serve as a strong spiritual anchor for Vietnamese people living in Japan while contributing to friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

Cyberspace now runs through children’s learning, entertainment, and daily lives, but warned it is laced with dangerous content, online insults, threats, and seemingly harmless clicks that can trigger fraud, data breaches, and risks children who are not yet equipped to handle.

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

A scholar has stressed the need for Vietnam to make use of cooperation opportunities arising from the RoK’s foreign policy, particularly in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, digital transformation, and green energy, as well as chances in multilateral diplomacy.

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

Pham Van Hat is best known as the creator of the made-in-Vietnam “Seed Sowing Robot,” now exported to 15 countries, alongside dozens of practical inventions that have eased labour for thousands of farmers.

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Films, music, television programmes, e-books, video games, journalistic works, images and creative data can now be copied, edited and redistributed within minutes. While copyright violations were once linked mainly to pirated discs or counterfeit books, infringements have shifted online with faster speed, wider scale and greater anonymity.

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Consul General Nguyen Viet Kien stressed President Ho Chi Minh’s reputation and career transcended Vietnam’s borders to inspire liberation movements worldwide, and that his ideas on the right to self-determination, peace, and friendship among nations remain deeply relevant today.

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

To accelerate the implementation of the the Ethnic Affairs Strategy by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, the Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue thoroughly carrying out the Party and State’s policies on ethnic affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of State management and strengthening oversight of policy implementation.

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.