HANOI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Traffic accidents in Vietnam decreased sharply in the first six months of this year, with the number of crashes caused by drunk drivers also down considerably, according to the country's National Traffic Safety Committee.
A total of 4,970 traffic crashes occurred in the first half of this year in Vietnam, with 2,865 people dead, 2,009 severely injured and 1,462 slightly injured, local newspaper Vietnam News reported on Wednesday, citing the committee.
The numbers of traffic accidents, deaths and light injuries dropped 12.9 percent, 13.5 percent and 15.3 percent, respectively, against the same period last year.
The number of severe injuries rose 2.3 percent year-on-year, according to the committee.
On average, Vietnam saw 27 traffic crashes per day, which claimed 16 lives and injured 19 people in the six-month period.
This year the Southeast Asian country set the goal to reduce traffic accidents and casualties by 5-10 percent from the previous year.
As part of the effort to achieve the goal, the committee's inspection teams would check localities with a high number of traffic accidents, said its deputy chairman Khuat Viet Hung.
The Ministry of Public Security will focus on punishing violations related to alcohol, as well as those related to overloaded vehicles, and handling people who deliver motorbikes and cars for teenagers to drive, he said.
A total of 11,448 traffic crashes occurred in 2022 in Vietnam, killing 6,364 people, severely injuring 4,215 and slightly injuring 3,613, according to the Traffic Police Department. ■
