Hanoi,July 22 (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent an urgent message toask localities to take drastic measures to prevent particularly serious trafficaccidents. 

Theorder was made following a serious accident that killed at least eight peopleand injured seven others after a coach collided with a lorry in the southernprovince of Binh Thuan early July 21 morning.

Theaccident happened on National Highway 1A in Ham Tan district’s Tan Duc commune.

Sixpeople onboard the 16-seater mini-bus died at the scene of the crash. Twoothers died later at hospital.

DeputyPrime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, who is Chairman of the National Traffic SafetyCommittee, asked the provincial authorities to mobilise forces to attendthe scene and assist victims.

Policehave launched an investigation into the cause of the crash but earlyindications show the bus veered into the opposite lane of the highway and hitthe truck.

Theroad where the accident happened was closed for approximately four hours buthas now reopened to traffic.

ThePM asked the Ministry of Public Security to promptly investigate the accidentto find the cause and increase inspections over coaches and trucksoperating between 9pm and 5am. Those drivers found tobe using drugs or alcohol will be immediately suspended as wellas their transport businesses.

Herequired the Ministry of Transport and transport departments of Binh Thuan, LamDong, Quang Ninh and Kon Tum to examine infrastructure safety along nationalhighways No 1, 5, 14 and 51 and deal with areas at high risk oftraffic accidents.

Theministry would direct the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam and authorities oflocalities nationwide to tighten management over the operation of transportcompanies and their vehicles and implementation of safety regulations bydrivers; review and add warning signs and install barriers at high risk areas;mobilise all forces to resolutely handle black spots of traffic accidents andincrease inspection and patrols to detect traffic safety regulation violations.

OnJuly 11, a traffic accident killed six people and injured 30 others after acoach veered off the road and plunged 20 metres down a steep hillside in the CentralHighlands province of Kon Tum.

TheDepartment of Traffic Police under the Ministry of Public Security has urgedtraffic police nationwide to take measures to ensure traffic safety during theupcoming National Day (September 2).

Thetwo-month campaign will run through September 14. During the campaign,traffic police will manage coaches, terminals, stations and airports toreduce traffic accidents, jams and delays.

Theywill increase inspections and patrols at high risk areas and strictly punishviolators, focusing on common violations such as speeding, drunk driving,vehicles driving over capacity, riding motorbikes without helmets, racingmotorbikes illegally and overloaded trucks and coaches.

Regardingrailway transport, police will coordinate with authorities of localities andthe railway sector to reinforce patrols and deal with violations, especiallythe illegal lifting of barriers and the opening of illegal level crossings. 

Increased inspectionswill also be carried out for inland waterway transport with more attentionbeing paid to checking and penalising drivers of unregisteredwaterway vehicles, overloaded vehicles and those that do not comply withtechnical safety specifications. Drivers who do not have the properqualifications will also be fined. 

Thedepartment also asked for increasing information dissemination to raise publicawareness of traffic safety regulations./.