More officers to manage post-Tet traffic in Ha Noi

The Giai Phong Road in Ha Noi saw crowded traffic again yesterday. People are flooding the capital city as they return to work after the Tet holiday. - Photo Vnexpress.net

"We will dispatch sufficient forces for managing and directing traffic, as well as patrol forces on the 14 key traffic routes leading to the city to help people returning to the city after Tet," Thang said.

Thang reported that during the holiday Ha Noi witnessed no traffic jams and the number of collisions was halved.

"There was not a single case of lighting firecrackers on New Year's Eve or illegal vehicle races," Thang said.

Praising the efforts of Ha Noi police officers, vice chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Quoc Hung said that traffic ran smoothly, despite an increase in vehicles on the roads.

Hung asked Ha Noi police to ensure safety at bus and train stations, and key traffic routes. He also urged police to punish taxi drivers for raising prices and taking an unsafe number of passengers.

"People are flooding the capital city to return to work during the final days of the holiday, so it is essential to increase police presence in key traffic routes such as Phap Van – Cau Gie and other city entrances, where we usually see congestion," Transport Minister Dinh La Thang said.

Thang urged the Ministry of Public Security to call on other localities to take similar action.

Speaking at a ceremony yesterday, the director of the Ha Noi Police, Nguyen Duc Chung, said his department would join forces with other authorities to mitigate traffic accidents.

"In addition, Ha Noi Police will dispatch forces to fight crimes that often happen at bus stations and festivals to help local people enjoy the festive season," Chung said.

Roads jammed

Several traffic jams occurred on a section of National Highway No 1 A in the Mekong province of Tien Giang on Sunday when migrants returned to HCM City after the Tet holidays.

Passengers and motorcyclists were trapped on My Quy Bridge and a four-way crossroads in Cai Lay Town, as well as Phu Nhuan Bridge and Cai Lay Bridge in Cai Lay District and Ba Dac Bridge in Cai Be District.

Thousands of automobiles and motorcycles moved slowly near the approach road of the Vam Cong Ferry Station which connects Dong Thap and An Giang provinces on National Highway No 80.

One ferry operator at Vam Cong Ferry Station said the sharp increase in vehicles, especially motorcycles, was the main cause for traffic congestion at the station.

Traffic congestion also affected passengers returning to HCM City from the provinces of Vinh Long, Tra Vinh and Soc Trang when crossing Dinh Khao Ferry Station across Co Chien River on National Road No 54 in Vinh Long Province and at the Co Chien Ferry Station linking the provinces of Ben Tre and Tra Vinh on National Road No 60.

Yesterday, when thousands of migrants from the Mekong Delta returned to HCM City, the congestion became worse.

At noon on Sunday, a 5-km traffic jam was seen on National Highway No 51 from Nhon Trach Intersection to Suoi Ca Bridge in the southern province of Dong Nai's Long Thanh District.

Large groups of holiday-makers from HCM City and Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces returning home after Tet holidays in Ba Ria-Vung Tau were the main cause for traffic jams on National Highway No 51.

246 traffic deaths recorded during Tet

Nearly 430 traffic accidents occurred within the seven days of the Tet holiday nationwide, leaving 246 people dead and 415 injured, according to the National Committee for Traffic Safety.

There were 32 fewer accidents and 66 fewer injured in 2015 than in the previous year, but 32 more deaths were recorded.

The tragic incidents were the result of traffic violations such as driving without helmets, speeding and drunk driving.

During Tet, there were 32,000 violations recorded with VND18.5 billion (US$862,000) collected in fines, 223 cars and 7,300 scooters temporarily seized, and about 1,300 driving licences revoked.

On Saturday the National Committee for Traffic Safety's hotline received 15 calls and texts regarding elevated public transportation fares and increased parking prices at a number of temples and pagodas.