Between January and June, a total of 40 road traffic accidents were recorded in Da Nang, and these resulted in 28 deaths and 29 serious injuries. The figures show a decrease of 15 in the number of accidents, deaths by 4, and injuries by 6 against 2017.

A scene of a road traffic accident in Ngu Hanh Son District

However, in May alone, a total of 9 road traffic accidents were reported in the city. These resulted in 4 deaths and 7 injuries, representing an increase of 1 in the number of accidents, and injuries by 3 compared with the same period last year.

Mr Nguyen Dang Huy, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Transport, said that his unit’s interdisciplinary team has identified 43 potential traffic hot-spots, mainly in T-junctions and intersections.

An increasing number of vehicles, road users exceeding the speed limit, a lack of street lights at night, narrow and sloping roads, and illegal vehicle parking, are considered as main reasons to result in a rise in traffic congestion and more road traffic accidents at these hot-spots.

In attempting to reduce the number of traffic accidents and ease traffic congestion, greater efforts have been made to improve transportation infrastructure, and guide traffic arrangements at the traffic hot-spots.

The focus has been on implementing odd and even day car parking plan, issuing one-way restrictions on some certain streets, re-arranging the traffic for over 30-seat coach buses, and banning all types of trailer and semi-trailer trucks from travelling on some main streets during rush hours.

In addition, the local authorities have given the go-ahead for upgrading all the already-detected potential traffic hot-spots in a bid to reduce road traffic accidents.

In particular, surveillance cameras have been already installed on Vo Chi Cong, Truong Son, Ton Duc Thang, Nguyen Luong Bang and some areas surrounding the city’s Coach Station.

Traffic lights have been installed at intersections of Truong Son and entrance road to the Hoa Nhon quarry, Ngo Quyen and Binh Than, and Nguyen Sinh Sac and Hoang Thi Loan.

In addition, traffic signs have been installed on 10 more streets in Hai Chau and Ngu Hanh Son districts which indicate that 4-wheeled vehicles are only allowed to park along them either on odd dates or even dates.

The streets are Ly Thuong Kiet, Nguyen Du, Le Quy Don, Chau Thi Vinh Te, Le Quang Dao, Tran Bach Dang, Ngo Thi Sy, Hoang Ke Viem, An Thuong 2 and An Thuong 3.

Also, car parking is now banned at some areas nearby intersections of Nguyen Van Linh and Phan Chau Trinh, Nguyen Van Linh and Nguyen Hoang, Nguyen Van Linh and Phan Thanh, Nguyen Van Linh and Hoang Dieu, Hung Vuong and Ly Thai To, Phan Chau Trinh and Tran Binh Trong, Ong Ich Khiem and Quang Trung, Hai Phong and Ong Ich Khiem, and Hai Phong and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai during rush hours.

The municipal Department of Transport has proposed the local authorities that a pedestrian underpasses leading to beaches on Vo Nguyen Giap, Hoang Sa and Truong Sa streets should be built.