Last year, a total of 21,568 traffic accidents happened nationwide, claiming 8,680 lives and injuring over 19,280.  These figures declined respectively by 1259, 47 and 1789 against 2015.

Deputy Minister Son (right) honouring a representative from the National Traffic Police Department

However, although the road traffic statistics have improved, the number of waterway traffic cases climbed by 18.

Penalty tickets were imposed for over 4.4 million road traffic violations, and over 370,000 offenders had their driving licences temporarily revoked.  Over 94,000 overloaded vehicles were also dealt with.

Interestingly, 41 instances of traffic congestion lasting for more than 1 hour were reported nationwide during 2016, the majority of them occurring in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The above statistics were announced at a recent national meeting for traffic police officers which took place in Da Nang.

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Minister for Public Security Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Son urged traffic police forces nationwide to continue their great efforts to ensure traffic safety and security before, during, and after the upcoming 25^th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. 

More effective solutions should also be found to decrease the number of road traffic accidents, and combat traffic-related crimes.

Also at the meeting, 7 units and 2 individuals from the National Traffic Police Department were presented with Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee for their active involvement in ensuring traffic safety.

In addition, 2 units received emulation flags from the General Political Department under the Ministry of Public Security, and 4 others were presented with Certificates of Merit from the National Traffic Police Department.