There were a total of 132 accidents between Reunification Day, Labour Day and the weekend (April 30 – May 03).
Seventy-nine people have died and Seventy-six others injured on Vietnam’s roads over the four-day holiday weekend. VNExpress citing a report from local traffic police.
Officers said the causes of the accidents included drink driving, people using the wrong lanes and illegal racing.
On Thursday and Friday, police across the country temporarily seized more than 120 motorbikes and arrested dozens of people racing on the roads.
According to a report by Vietnam News, on Saturday alone, traffic police fined nearly 8,000 drivers for violating laws with administrative fine of nearly VND3 billion (US$130,400). They seized more than 1,400 automobiles and motorbikes and withdrew about 400 driving licenses.
On Friday afternoon, a police officer was injured in Long Thanh District, Dong Nai province after a collision during a high-speed chase. A man, 27, from Can Tho City, was arrested at the scene and discovered to have been drinking alcohol. Vietnam News reported.
Traffic accidents occur frequently in Vietnam, mainly due to the chaotic local driving style and poor road conditions. Foreigners not used to driving in Vietnam should take extreme caution, especially when driving in big cities like Hanoi and Ho chi Minh City.
In the Event of a Motor Vehicle Accident
The driver of the vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident needs to contact the police and the insurance company immediately, even if it is a minor accident. If there are serious injuries, the police arrange transportation to the nearest hospital or medical centre.
The emergency telephone number for the police is 113.
The driver should supply the name, address, driver’s license number, vehicle type and insurance information of any drivers involved in the accident to the police and insurance company. If the accident involves damage to property, the driver should attempt to find the owner and supply that information to the insurer.
A police report is completed and given to the driver, which needs to be presented to the insurer for the claim. The insurer gathers information about the accident, examines the police report, completes the claim form and begins the process of settling the claim.