VietNamNet Bridge – Traffic police found to be abusing their powers will be strictly punished, the Ministry of Public Security has ordered.

A police officer in Ha Noi stops a speeding violator in national highway. Public Security Ministry also urges people to report police's violation of power abusing.

This has been done to ease traffic chaos during the Christmas and Tet holiday periods from December 16 to March 15.

Police were also told to work hard to lower the number of traffic accidents by 5 to 10 per cent.

Nguyen Dinh Anh, a traffic policeman in Ha Noi, agreed that police who behaved badly should be penalised.

On-line newspapers have recently published stories about traffic police who take bribes or fail to follow proper procedures when punishing those who break traffic laws.

"This gives the police a bad public image, and punishing them should help improve the situation," Anh said.

Members of the public who are asked to pay bribes or have other complaints should make a report to local authorities, he added.

In the first nine months of this year, 48 out of 63 provinces and cities in the country reported a 10 per cent fall in traffic fatalities, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has also told the Ha Noi People's Committee to seriously deal with transport enterprises that allow their coaches to operate illegally around My Dinh Terminal in Tu Liem District.

This follows reports that many coaches park and pick up passengers at wrong places around the city's major terminal.
A recent crackdown, which fined more than 60 violated coaches, hasn't resolved the problem.

VietNamNet/VNS