Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee will strictly punish traffic violators, in particular, illegal motorbike racing, which causes traffic accidents, Chairman of the city People’s Committee told to Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper on October 25.
The city also will ask departments to coordinate with families and schools aim to strengthen public’s concern about illegal motorbike racing as well as create appropriate playgrounds for the youth.
On October 23, Police impounded about 550 motorbikes and arrested dozens of youths who were planning an illegal speed ride through the city’s streets.
Many of the youths escaped and left their motorbikes behind after being approached, Binh Thanh District’s police said.
It was alleged the large group was planning a speed ride, to be accompanied by the noise of modified exhaust pipes.
Police said the catch was their biggest so far in the fight against illegal motorbike racing. Violators would receive a heavy fine.
Earlier, a meeting was held in the beginning of this month to discuss the issue of illegal motorbike racing. Statistics released by Vo Van Van, deputy head of HCM City traffic police were alarming.
In the first nine month, traffic police officers intercepted almost 240 illegal motorbike races in which they temporarily detained close to 2,500 vehicles. On average, almost one illegal race occurred every day (often at night)! Yet this figure is way below the real ones which actually occurred, according to estimates by the well-informed.
In the same meeting, Dr. Ton That Quynh Ai, head of the emergency ward of Cho Ray Hospital, one of the biggest hospitals in town, told delegates that every day, the hospital received about 50 cases of traffic accidents. As the majority of the accidents happened while the drivers were doing at high speed, injuries were extremely serious. Those who escape death are often disabled for life and have to cover high treatment costs.
Despite all the bad consequences, illegal motorbike racing in Saigon has been on the rise recently. Illegal racers come from not only rich families that can afford them expensive vehicles but also from poor ones that can hardly make both ends meet.
Illegal motorbike racing poses yet another youth problem that needs to be tackled. Just like video-game addiction, solving the issue of illegal racing requires a comprehensive approach, not only from authorities but also from families and communities.
