76 killed in traffic accidents during National Day holiday in Vietnam

Seventy-six people were killed and 95 others injured in 127 crashes across Vietnam during the four-day National Day (September 2) holiday starting last Friday, with nearly 9,400 drivers caught breaking the breath alcohol concentration rule, the central traffic police agency reported. These accidents mainly resulted from travelers’ neglect of traffic safety rules, said Tran Huu Minh, chief of staff of the National Traffic Safety Committee. During the past four days, traffic police nationwide have handled 34,806 traffic safety violations, imposed fines of more than VND72.25 billion (US$3.02 million) on the violators, impounded over 12,600 vehicles of all types, and revoked 7,166 driver’s licenses. In Vietnam, memorial services are conducted in November annually to commemorate the dead victims of traffic accidents and call for strict compliance with traffic rules. Such events are aimed at responding to the World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Road Traffic Accidents, which falls on the third Sunday in November each year, as adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005.