More than 3,000 people from different social backgrounds took part in a walk in Thu Duc District on May 13, co-organised by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Ho Chi Minh City and the City Traffic Safety Board to mark ‘Traffic Safety Year 2012’.
The walk was aimed to raise public awareness of traffic safety laws, more polite behaviors when driving, and responsibility for building a civilised society.
Participants in the walk followed a three kilometre course starting from Children’s House in Thu Duc District to Vo Van Ngan, Dang Van Bi and Dan Chu Streets. Thu Duc District was chosen particularly because it is the hotbed for serious traffic congestion along with District 2 and District 9.
Duong Quan Ha, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in HCMC, stated that the main purpose of ‘Traffic Safety Year 2012’ was to reduce the number of traffic accidents. Decreasing traffic congestion and traffic law violations were also important aims.
In response to ‘Traffic Safety Year 2012’, the HCMC People’s Committee is carrying out a movement ‘3 Dos and Don’ts” which are: Don’t drive when drinking alcohol; Don’t drive on no entry lanes; Don’t speed; Do wear a helmet when driving; Do carry a valid driving licence; Do be polite.
After four months of implementation of this movement, the numbers of traffic accidents have noticeably gone down. Even though there were three fatal accidents and continued illegal occupancy of pavement vendors, there is a marked improvement in traffic conditions.
Also on this occasion, the VFF and Great Eastern Life Insurance Company presented VND50 million (approx. US$2,400) to 10 poor households whose relatives were badly injured or killed in traffic accidents, and gave away more than 300 helmets to students in Districts 2, 9 and Thu Duc.
