Police forces parade around Hoan Kiem Lake on motorbikes and in cars at the Traffic Safety Year 2023 ceremony on February 9. (Photo: VNA)

The initiative, with the theme "Understanding the Law to Build a Safe Traffic Culture," was launched at a ceremony in the capital.

The campaign's objective is to promote a safer traffic culture by increasing public awareness of traffic laws and order, mitigating prolonged traffic congestion and reducing the number of accidents.

During the launch, Minister of Transport and Standing Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee Nguyen Van Thang reported that the previous year's efforts to improve traffic safety had already significantly reduced accidents, deaths, and injuries.

Minister Thang said that last year, many large-scale political, cultural and sports events were held after the COVID-19 pandemic was brought under control, leading to a strong increase in transport demand and the number of vehicles on roads and waterways.

The target could be reached with the resolute implementation of comprehensive measures on traffic accident prevention and control and with the participation of the whole political system and society, he said.

This year is expected to increase the number of vehicles, posing more challenges for ensuring traffic order and safety. He warned that the risks of traffic accidents would be high if there were no drastic solutions to the issue.

Minister Thang asked ministries, branches and localities to be very cautious and make greater efforts to curb traffic accidents, ensure traffic safety and strengthen inspection and handling violations of traffic regulations.

Addressing the conference held by the National Committee for Traffic Safety on reviewing traffic safety in 2022 and launching tasks for 2023 on Thursday, Thang requested ministries and sectors propose specific tasks and solutions to achieve the goal of reducing traffic accidents by at least 10% in each locality and gradually reducing traffic congestions in traffic hubs in big cities.

According to a report made by the National Committee for Traffic Safety, in 2022, 11,457 traffic accidents occurred nationwide, causing 6,397 deaths and 7,804 injuries.

The numbers represent a drop of 38 accidents (0.33%), an increase of 598 fatalities (10.31%) and a reduction of 214 injuries from the previous year.

Of the accidents, 11,323 cases were on the roads, killing 6,265 people and leaving 7,777 injured; 32 traffic accidents on waterways, killing 45 and leaving six others injured; 95 cases of railway accidents, killing 74 and injuring 21; and seven traffic accidents in sea routes, killing 13.

Analysis showed that 14.56% of accidents were caused by driving in the wrong lane; 3.22% by speeding; 2.02% by drunk driving; 0.03% by using addictive substances; and 0.45% due to illegal parking.

Khuat Viet Hung, Vice Chairman of the committee, said the work of ensuring traffic safety in 2022 revealed shortcomings and failed to meet targets.

For example, railway traffic safety corridor violations have not been handled promptly. He added that overloaded trucks, illegal motorbike racing and traffic jams in big cities have remained unsolved.

Low awareness of traffic participants, a shortage of human resources, and inadequate public infrastructure also contributed to the issue.

At the conference, Minister Thang asked relevant authorities to speed up progress and ensure the quality of projects to upgrade and repair traffic infrastructures, strengthen inspections on means of transport, and tighten the management of traffic safety conditions for transportation businesses.