A head-on collision between two buses in Khanh Hoa Province last Friday killed 12 people and injured 49 others.

Downgraded and inappropriate infrastructure are partly blamed for the increase in accidents on the highway.

The fatal accident in Khanh Hoa happened on a section of road that has many bends without warning signs and appropiate lighting.

Head of Quang Nam Province's Traffic Police Office, Hoang Minh Thong, told Nguoi Lao Dong (The Labourer) newspaper that most accidents happened on a narrow part of the highway that has no barriers and which runs through the province.

This 85km section was responsible for 45 per cent of the province's traffic fatalities last year.

In Quang Ngai, the 100km section of the highway running through the province has been considered a black spot for years.

Traffic accidents there accounted for 70 per cent of the total number of traffic accidents in the province last year.

Director of the provincial transport department, Dang Van Minh, told Viet Nam News that the road's narrowness and rough surface were among the reasons behind the number of accidents.

"However, the most important reason is the lack of awareness of drivers," he said. "The province has taken various measures to help reduce traffic accidents such as installing warning signs, increasing inspections and banning local citizens from encroaching the roadside."

The department has proposed that the Directorate for Roads of Viet Nam to handle the dangerous spots.

"Educating people, particularly drivers, to raise their awareness and carefulness about road traffic safety is also essential," Minh said.

Director of Quang Nam's transport department, Truong Van Can, told Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper that it is necessary to upgrade and expand the road, especially creating barriers to separate the road into lanes to prevent vehicles colliding head-on.

The national highway crosses 31 provinces and cities from the northern border Lang Son to the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

Vietnamnet