VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City succeeded in decreasing the number of traffic accidents, fatalities and injuries last year, but several factors take the shine off this achievement, experts say.

At a meeting held here last Saturday to review last year's traffic safety record, participants agreed that while the city achieved its aim of reducing the number of accidents, a surge at the end of the year showed measures taken were not really effective.

Last year, 890 accidents happened in the city, killing 746 people and injuring 351. The figures were 106, 96 and 114 lower than corresponding figures in 2011.

The number of critical traffic jams in the city also reduced, the meeting heard.

However, participants expressed concern over an increase of nearly 10 per cent in the number of accidents in December compared to previous months.

They said this indicated that the measures taken were not effective in producing sustainable results.

Nguyen Hoang Hiep, deputy chairman of the National Traffic Security Committee, pointed out another disturbing factor. While traffic accidents in general had dropped, the number of serious accidents in HCM City was 10 per cent higher than the national average, he said.

Hiep recommended that the city takes tougher measures against lawbreakers and targets "breakthroughs" in developing public transportation.

Nguyen Huu Tin, deputy chairman of the city People's Committee, said the city set a target of reducing by 10 per cent the number of traffic accidents, fatalities and injuries this year.

He pledged the involvement of city authorities at every level in combating traffic accidents and traffic congestion around the city.

The city will have more flyovers in congestion hotspots, including the two steel-foundation flyovers at Hang Xanh and Thu Duc intersections.

Last year, HCM City spent VND17 trillion (US$815 million) on several important transportation works, including the Rach Chiec Bridge that connects districts 2 and 9, the Go Dua roundabout near neighbouring Binh Duong Province, and the Phu Long Bridge that connects District 12 with Binh Duong.

Source: VNS