Serious traffic accidents increase – why?

(Baonghean) - Recently, there have been many traffic accidents that have killed and injured many people.

Most recently, at 2:30 p.m. on June 9, 2013, in Long Dien district (Ba Ria - Vung Tau), a 72 L - 2354 truck was speeding, encroaching on the road and crashed into 3 motorbikes going in the opposite direction, killing all 6 people. At the same time in Cai Lay district (Tien Giang), a passenger bus, after crashing into a motorbike traveling on the road, swerved and overturned into a field, seriously injuring 7 people on board, causing traffic congestion for many hours.

On the same day, in Dien An commune, Dien Ban district (Quang Nam), Mai Linh 30X 8957 passenger bus, after "pushing down" 20 meters of steel railing, plunged into a deep hole on the side of the road. As a result, 3 people died and 30 others were injured. At 9:50 a.m. on June 7, 2013, while going down Hon Giao - Khanh Le pass (Khanh Hoa province), passenger bus 43S 6320 (carrying a group of teachers and relatives of a primary school in Da Nang returning from a trip) plunged into a cliff. This horrific accident claimed the lives of 7 people and injured 20 others.

According to statistics from the authorities, in the past 6 months (December 20, 2012 to May 20, 2013), there were over 12,053 traffic accidents nationwide, killing 4,163 people and seriously injuring over 12,000 others. Compared to the same period last year, the number of accidents and injuries decreased, but the number of deaths increased by 28 cases. Of which, in Nghe An, there were 171 accidents, killing 120 people and seriously injuring 149 people. Compared to the same period last year, the number of accidents and deaths increased by 6 to 8%.

Recently, the number of serious traffic accidents occurring in our province is also quite high.

Traffic accidents such as the incident in which a group of 12th graders riding bicycles in Anh Son Town were suddenly hit from behind by a truck, killing two and sending four others to the emergency room on the afternoon of May 23, 2013; the incident in which a car number 37S 0164 was traveling on Le Nin Avenue (Vinh City) and suddenly jumped onto the sidewalk after crashing into a motorbike traveling in the same direction, killing two people on the spot, which happened not long ago, still horrify many people in the area. In addition, we must mention incidents such as the incident in Tan Ky in which a “driverless” truck ran over the driver and killed him; or the incident in Dien Chau in which two soldiers were run over by a train while using the toilet, which happened not long ago, still haunt many people.

Through the numbers as well as a few specific examples above, it shows that traffic accidents are still at an alarming level and are a threat to anyone and any family when participating in traffic. Even though we have just implemented the “Traffic Safety Year 2012” and are striving to reduce traffic accidents by 10% in 2013 with all 3 criteria.

In fact, diagnosing the “disease” of traffic accidents is not difficult, but the difficulty is implementing “treatment” measures, which many localities, despite their great efforts, seem to be struggling with. Although in general, the authorities have proposed many “medicines” such as focusing on renovating and upgrading roads, implementing strategies to develop means of transport in line with traffic infrastructure; gradually improving the effectiveness of State management from documents to patrolling, controlling, and handling violations; educating traffic awareness… That is not to mention the number of traffic accidents, the number of people who caused traffic accidents being prosecuted and brought to court is also not small. But it seems that the situation of ensuring traffic safety is still not very optimistic. And, that has had a significant impact on socio-economic development!

There is one thing that everyone can easily see and considers the main cause of traffic accidents: low awareness of traffic law compliance. The spirit of respect for the law in each traffic participant as well as in society has not been promoted. Many traffic participants disobey the law, disregard the lives of others and themselves; use beer and alcohol when participating in traffic... Besides, many officials and civil servants do not fulfill their duties such as avoiding, being careless or only focusing on punishment. That is not to mention the negative phenomena that have long been discussed by public opinion such as their extortion and harassment. These things have become problems, become chronic diseases, showing signs of "immunity", are a painful reality, causing a feeling of insecurity for everyone, every family.

While the issue of ensuring traffic safety is almost completely left to the two sectors of Transport and Police, the responsibility of leaders at some levels and sectors is not high. Remember, last April, the Chairman of Khanh Hoa province asked to accept disciplinary action before the Government for allowing many serious traffic accidents to occur in the first quarter of 2013. He was even willing to resign. He said that, of course, before resigning, he would remove the heads of agencies that were also responsible. However, through press information, there has not been a single case in the country where a leader was disciplined for allowing many traffic accidents to occur in his locality. So we know that the awareness of ensuring traffic safety and order is not only poor among ordinary citizens and civil servants?

Viet Long