Losses caused by traffic accidents in Viet Nam amount to 50 trillion VND (over 2.12 billion USD) each year, equivalent to 30 percent of budget spending on education, or 1. 5 million people going without income for the whole year.

The scene of a traffic accident

The information was released at a ceremony on September 27 for the signing of a cooperation agreement between the National Traffic Safety Committee and the Viet Nam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM).

Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee Khuat Viet Hung said despite the decrease in the number of accidents, deaths and injured victims every year, the reduction is not sustainable, and the numbers of dead and injured victims remain high.

Mr Hung said a majority of traffic accidents involve motorcycles.

In the first nine months of 2018, motorcycle riders caused nearly 70 percent of the more than 13,240 traffic accidents nationwide, and accounted for almost 90 percent of dead and injured victims in accidents on the nation’s roads, he said.

Motorcycle remains a main means of transport in Viet Nam due to underdeveloped infrastructure, low income and poor public transport services.

2018 is the fourth year that the National Traffic Safety Committee and the VAMM have joined hands to address issues related to traffic safety in the country through communication campaigns and research.

In particular, the results and recommendations of the five research projects funded by VAMM research fund have provided useful reference for the National Traffic Safety Committee and related agencies in designing policies and measures to improve traffic safety.

This year, the two sides launched a film contest on traffic safety entitled “I know, I change”.

(Source: VNA/ DA NANG Today)