Grand requiem for traffic accident victims slated for late August

Speaking at a press meeting on August 22, Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee Le Kim Thanh noted that in Vietnam, more than 30 people lose their lives while hundreds of others sustain life-long injuries in traffic accidents every day. That means there are hundreds of families suffering from heavy losses and pain each day.

He pointed out that the after-effects of each traffic accident always linger for a long time and are inestimable. Victims’ families and the national budget also have to carry more burdens to address accidents’ consequences, threatening economic growth achievements and worsening the image of a safe country in international friends’ eyes.

All necessary measures have been taken to bring down the numbers of traffic accidents as well as dead and injured victims. However, state agencies, social organisations, associations, and each person need to keep joining hands and act more drastically, he continued.

Thanh said the requiem is part of the committee’s 2024 plan for ensuring traffic safety and in response to the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. It is one of the main activities of an education coordination programme between the committee and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Central Committee to encourage Buddhists to engage in promoting traffic order and safety.

The event is also a reminder of the importance of creating a safe traffic environment for each person and the community, he added.

During the first seven months of 2024, 14,242 traffic accidents killed 6,204 people nationwide, a decline of 717 or 10.36% year on year. Meanwhile, 10,976 people were injured, up 32.95%.

Of the total, 14,125 accidents happened on the roads, killing 6,126 people and injuring 10,953 others. Eighty-four railway accidents left 60 dead and eight injured while 30 waterways accidents claimed 17 lives and injured five, and three marine accidents caused one death, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee.