In a bid to curb the chronic road accidents in the capital, the Ha Noi People’s Committee has requested permission from the Government to raise fine levels for traffic violations.

Traffic police write fines for traffic violators. Ha Noi plans to soon raise penalties.

Nguyen Duy Ngoc, the head of the city’s Road and Railway Traffic Department, said that in September alone, the city witnessed nearly 45,000 traffic violations, mostly involving running red lights, drunk driving, illegal parking and failure to wear a crash helmet.

He also said motorists when apprehended often assaulted policemen.

Under the traffic law, running a red light or failing to wear a helmet risks a fine of between VND100,000 and VND200,000 (US$5.5-11).

According to the National Traffic Safety Committee, each year 12,000 people die in traffic accidents nationally, of which 4,000 are children.

Traffic accidents are the main cause of death or brain trauma in young people.

Ngoc also said that the police should be given the authority to impound the vehicles of those who have been issued court summonses for 30 days and that the authorities should be given the right to inform their employers.

In July, the Ministry of Transport requested authority to raise punishment levels for traffic violations in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City to twice the national level. However, the proposal was rejected on the grounds that it discriminated against those who lived in urban areas.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News