From December 15, 2020 to December 15, 2021, a combined total of 11,495 traffic accidents occurred across the country, killing 5,799 people and injuring 8,018 others. The figures showed a decrease of 3,496 in the number of accidents, deaths by 1,068, and injuries by 3,143 against previous year.

Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairman Le Quang Nam (centre) chaired the event in the city. Photo: THANH LAN

As many as 55 provinces and centrally-run cities recorded a strong decrease in the number of fatalities due to traffic accidents as compared to 2020. Notably, An Giang, Son La, Dong Thap, Bac Lieu and Ben Tre provinces reported a decrease of over 30%.

In Da Nang alone, a total of 81 road traffic accidents were recorded last year, and these resulted in 44 deaths and 56 serious injuries. The figures showed a rise of 5 in the number of accidents, and decline of 9 and 2 in the number of deaths and injuries respectively.

All the above figures were released by the National Committee for Traffic Safety at an online national conference on Thursday morning.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Le Quang Nam chaired the event in Da Nang.

Delegates attending the online national conference in Da Nang. Photo: THANH LAN

In his remarks at the online event, Deputy Prime Minister cum Chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety Pham Binh Minh highlighted positive results in ensuring traffic safety in 2021, saying that the traffic order and safety was improved considerably with sharp declines recorded in the number of accidents, deaths and injuries.

He explained the main reasons are that road users' sense of self-discipline to obey the nation’s traffic law and the responsibilities of the law enforcement forces have been enhanced. In addition, there was a significant decrease in traffic density in developed cities due to a long period of social distancing sparked by COVID-19.

The official urged member agencies of the National Committee and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to build plans for effectively implementing the goals of traffic order and safety in 2022.

The focus will be on raising the public awareness of the nation’s traffic rules, reducing the number of traffic accidents, deaths and injuries by 5-10% annually, curbing traffic jams in key traffic hubs and big cities, and preventing COVID-19 infections and outbreaks in transportation activities.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by M.DUNG