Nghe An focuses on eliminating 22 traffic 'black spots'
(Baonghean) - In the first months of 2018, the number of traffic accidents decreased significantly but the number of deaths remained unchanged. What is worrying is that most of the accidents often occurred at traffic "black spots"...
National Highway 1A, passing through Nam Cam Industrial Park (Nghi Loc), including the N5 intersection and Bai Lu intersection, has recently been the scene of consecutive traffic accidents, many of which have resulted in casualties (2 fatalities at the intersection).
The reason is that the density of vehicles passing through this road is high, there are no signs or traffic lights, vehicle owners often drive at high speeds, leading to loss of speed control, which can easily lead to accidents.
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| Some degraded road sections. Photo: Manh Cuong |
Similarly, the Vinh bypass in Hung Nguyen and Nghi Loc districts is also a traffic “black spot” that is worrisome for drivers. From 2017 to now, at the intersection between Vinh bypass and National Highway 46B, there have been 3 accidents, killing 3 people and injuring 1 person.
Typically, at 8:00 a.m. on June 27, 2018, on the Vinh City bypass, passenger bus with license plate 36B-005.67 carrying about 30 passengers traveling from North to South suddenly lost control and overturned on the side of the road. The accident killed 2 people on the spot and injured 7 others.
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| Scene of the passenger bus overturning on Vinh bypass, killing 2 people on the spot and injuring 7 others. Photo: Document |
Driver Vo Trong Quyen said: “I often go through the intersection between Vinh bypass and National Highway 46B (Hung Tay intersection), I always feel scared, some people are not aware of the level of danger when they do not follow the law, leading to many tragic accidents on this road…”.
According to statistics from the Nghe An Provincial Traffic Safety Committee and the Road and Railway Traffic Police Department, Nghe An Province currently has 22 traffic “black spots”. From May 2017 to now, in Nghe An Province, there have been 98 traffic accidents, killing 70 people and injuring 77 people.
Most traffic black spots have limited visibility, are obstructed, especially at the corners of intersections, narrow bends, no lighting system at night; no traffic light system, the roads intersecting with National Highways at intersections are not uniform. In addition, the traffic infrastructure still has many shortcomings, the road surface quality is not guaranteed, the sign system, the dividing line is blurred in some places, the road surface is small, narrow, degraded, there are many potholes, many deep and long ditches. Many construction contractors in the area do not have solutions to ensure traffic safety...
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| Traffic police increase patrols and traffic regulation during bad weather and rush hours at traffic "black spots". Photo: Manh Cuong |
This is also a part of the reason that easily leads to tragic accidents for people. To limit this situation, the Traffic Police of Nghe An Province have increased their force, organized closed patrols in the area, and handled violations. Timely regulate traffic when the weather is bad or during rush hour. At the same time, organize propaganda and dissemination of laws and Road Traffic Law to each ward, agency, enterprise and school...
However, the number of traffic accidents and deaths due to traffic accidents has not decreased. According to Mr. Le Thanh Nghi - Deputy Head of the Road and Railway Traffic Police Department: "Traffic accidents that have occurred in recent times depend on 4 factors: Infrastructure conditions, people, vehicles, and residential environment. Focusing on eliminating "black spots" is necessary, but analysis of recent accidents, especially with inter-provincial passenger buses, shows that the fault lies with the vehicle driver.
Therefore, removing "black spots" is only a support, not that removing "black spots" will eliminate accidents, but more importantly, the awareness of traffic participants. The Road and Railway Traffic Police Department of Nghe An Public Security has surveyed black spots and unreasonable traffic organization on the routes to propose to functional agencies to overcome and repair. At the same time, it directed the Traffic Police force to increase patrols, control, and propaganda on mass media; combined with strict handling of violations, such as speeding, using alcohol while driving, driving on the wrong side of the road, running red lights...
Mr. Vo Minh Duc - Chief of Office of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee said: "At traffic black spots in the area, the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee has coordinated with relevant departments and branches to inspect and survey the actual situation, and at the same time sent an official dispatch requesting the Department of Roads 2, the route management unit to report to the General Department of Roads to establish a black spot project, which will include many accompanying solutions, such as handling curves, expanding visibility, widening lanes and adding additional auxiliary equipment to completely handle the shortcomings of traffic infrastructure".
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| Traffic police handle violations. Photo: Manh Cuong |
I think it is time that in addition to maintaining and repairing degraded roads or straightening zigzag roads, the Department of Transport and Public Works needs to install more median strips, paint speed-reducing lines, traffic lights, install additional public lighting systems, traffic control stations, signs... to prevent tragic traffic accidents.
On the other hand, the traffic police force needs to increase patrols and severely punish traffic safety violations so that traffic participants consciously comply with the Traffic Law. Agencies, departments and sectors should join forces to decisively eliminate traffic "black spots" in the area, in order to bring safety to traffic participants.