Delegates raised at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on October 22suggestions to a project on strengthening traffic safety on the southernregion’s highways before it will be submitted for the Government’sapproval.

The 100 million USD project aims tominimise traffic accidents and their damage on 21 national roads in 19southern localities while promoting local traffic infrastructuredevelopment, public awareness of traffic safety, traffic compliance andfirst-aid services for traffic accident victims.

The project should receive priority for early implementation to reducetraffic accidents, especially road accidents, said participants at theconference jointly held by the Traffic Safety Project Management Unit(TSPMU) under the Ministry of Transport and the Japan InternationalCooperation Agency (JICA).

The number ofcasualties caused by traffic accidents is down but this figure isunstable and unsustainable, they noted, adding that the project shouldallocate its funds rationally based on each locality’s specificcharacteristics in line with local authorities’ solutions to cut thenumber of accidents in a distinct and sustainable manner.

According to the TSPMU, the number of traffic accidents in thesoutheastern region makes up nearly 50 percent of the national figurewhile the Mekong Delta accounts for 35.25 percent.

In addition to the project awaiting approval, JICA has provided 65million USD in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam to helprealise a 70 million USD project in the 2009-2014 period to enhancetraffic safety on 10 national roads in northern localities, and bringabout obvious improvements in road safety.-VNA