Some 8,000 of people marched down the walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi in the morning of May 12 to raise awareness and call for real action against drink-driving in Vietnam
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| Thousands marched down the walking street to protest against drink-driving |
The campaign was organised by the National Traffic Safety Committee, the Hanoi People's Committee, accompanied by the Vietnam National Drama Theatre and Hanoi 1991-1994 High School Alumni Community.
The "After drinking – No driving" campaign aims to raise awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence, to prevent and reduce traffic accidents and fatalities caused by drink-driving. With a march by nearly ten thousand participants, the organiser hopes to convey the message to drinkers: drink responsibly because behind the steering wheel you play with your own and others’ lives.
  | | Attending the anti-drink-driving campaign, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The, and Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien, amongst others, urged local people as well as foreign visitors to join hands against drink-driving | |
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| Around one million T-shirts and stickers with the slogan "After drinking – No driving" were given away to attendees at the campaign as a plegde not to drive under the influence |
Though on a decreasing trend, traffic accidents in Vietnam on average kill 21 people and severely injure 40 others every day, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh said at the event.
"The government will add stricter penalties to punish drivers the breath or blood of whom exceeds the permitted alcohol concentration level," he added.
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| Goverment officials led the march |
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| The campaign drew some 8,000 people |
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| Celebrities and famous artists from Vietnam National Drama Theatre also participated in the walk |
According to Nguyen Duc Chung, chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, the government has been implementing strict measures to control traffic collisions. As a result, the number of accidents has been significantly reduced, however, a series of recent serious traffic accidents caused by drink-driving brought the issue higher on the agenda.
Most notably, two occurred on April 22 and May 1 claimed the lives of three middle-age women, who were the mainstays of their family and children living under extreme difficulties.
  | | Vice chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee Khuat Viet Hung said that the campaign is a great co-ordination between Hanoi 1991-1994 High School Alumni Community, two members of which were the victims of these fatal accidents, and functional forces for a meaningful cause towards the safety of the entire society | |
By Photo by Duy Tien
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