Proposal to hold principals responsible when students violate traffic laws

In 2018, there were 223 traffic accidents in the province, of which 8 were caused by drivers under 18 years old, killing 4 people and injuring 6 others.

The police force has issued a record of violations against 691 electric motorbike drivers, most of whom are students. Nghe An province assessed that traffic safety violations by students when using electric bicycles in a row, speeding, overtaking, and weaving in and out of traffic are common.

Students freely lined up, occupying the entire lane on National Highway 15, through Do Luong town. Photo courtesy

In 2018, Vinh City Police alone arrested and handled 195 cases of students driving electric motorbikes and motorcycles in violation of the Traffic Law. Most of them were students driving motorbikes without helmets or without a driver's license...

At the conference to summarize the Steering Committee for Crime Prevention, Social Evils and Building the Movement for the Whole People to Protect National Security in 2018, Mr. Vo Van Mai - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training said that the situation of students violating traffic laws is still prolonged, especially in key areas such as Vinh City and towns. For example, in Vinh City, the Traffic Police force announces the list of students violating traffic safety to schools every 3 months, requesting the schools to handle it.

“Some quarters have up to 60-70 students, some quarters have 30-40 students. But schools often do not handle the situation seriously, only criticize and warn, but do not impose severe punishment, so the deterrent effect is not high,” said Mr. Mai.

Mr. Vo Van Mai - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training said that schools have not handled the situation seriously, only criticized and reminded, so the deterrent effect is not high. Photo: Pham Bang

In addition, the shock troops only operate in schools, if they go far away, they cannot keep up. Some families have not cooperated with the school to propagate to their children, many parents still let their children bring motorbikes to school. Some households near the school keep bicycles and motorbikes, causing difficulties for the school's management.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training also said that students often ride with three people, and almost never wear helmets. When they see the traffic police, they start running away, which can lead to collisions.

"This is a difficult problem. We are focusing on directing and strengthening management, and especially the school must coordinate with local authorities and police to be able to do it. If the school acts alone, it cannot solve this situation," said Mr. Mai.

Many students in Yen Thanh still carry three people and do not wear helmets when driving electric motorbikes. Photo: Thai Hong

According to Colonel Nguyen Huu Cau - Director of the Provincial Police, regarding the situation of students violating traffic laws, the Department of Education and Training is requested to assign responsibility to the Principal and the Board of Directors of the school. For any complicated issues, the Department of Education and Training will coordinate with the police force to handle.

To reduce this situation, in addition to increasing patrols, controls, and handling of violations, in 2019, Nghe An province proposed solutions to innovate methods of propaganda, dissemination of legal education on traffic safety, and perfect the training program that combines theory and practice on traffic culture. At the same time, it will include in the main curriculum of the general education system, from primary, secondary, high school, piloting traffic safety education for 5-year-old preschool children.