Showing posts with label traffic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traffic. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Friday, July 6, 2012
72 million violations in 5 months in HCMC
2012, National Year for traffic safety: Really?
 
A motorbike in Hanoi carrying a heavy load has the pillion rider perched precariously and without a helmet. 2012, designated as the year of traffic safety, has continued to see a large number of accidents and traffic laws flouted.
Early this year the Prime Minister encouraged all local and regional officials to improve traffic in their respective regions. Just recently the Prime Minister "ordered all municipalities and agencies to continue their effort."
According to recent statistics, with the exception of some African countries, South East Asia, particularly Vietnam, has the highest accident rates recorded worldwide.
Almost immediately after the first warning statement, a Ho Chi Minh City official claimed a 50 percent reduction in accidents (Vietnam News).
Last week (Vietnam News, June 5) it was reported there was a 26 percent drop in accidents in the first five months.
Later in the week (Vietnam News, June 8), it was said that the targeted 10 percent decrease would not be achieved this year since there was only a slight change thus far in 2012.
In addition, it was claimed that there were only two traffic jams lasting more than 30 minutes this year in HCMC, as compared to last year’s 21 in the first five months – a huge reduction. It all seems a bit confusing and misleading at best. If we can’t be clear about the extent of the problem how can we attempt to manage the problem?
Now a campaign to shame has been bolstered by the Prime Minister. Apparently, traffic violators will have their names announced or published in newspapers in an attempt to shame the offenders. Although this was done somewhat effectively in the USA to shame criminals and drunk drivers, I’m not sure we can expect the same result here. In order for an individual to experience shame they must (1) have the awareness that they have done something wrong, and (2) they would then need to have the capability of accepting responsibility – prerequisites not easy to find. Additionally, comments written in “Talk around town” (Vietnam News, June 6) are not encouraging. Some of the younger people surveyed had similar responses: “Nobody cares… I don’t care… I think I feel nothing.” Other suggestions were made that the policy may only work for older people who have more of a sense of shame than the youngsters; another thought it might work for people in high level positions in the government.
When the shame scheme began two years ago it turned out to be ineffective: names were to be published and, in addition, offenders were to show remorse for their crimes – “but this rarely happened.”
How effective is shame in changing behavior? For some young drivers, it may even be a badge of honor among their peers. I guess anything is worth a try, however, considering the situation.
Violating traffic rules is the norm for many drivers, so how do we change the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of these people? Well, we know a few things about what causes accident: speeding, drinking, reckless driving, running red lights, etc.. And we know who the violators are: Young drivers, aged 15-25, cause 80 percent of accidents; alcohol is involved in 93 percent of accidents.
I would put my money on these groups of people. Driver education needs to begin early in all schools and violators must be subject to mandatory driver education along with substantial penalties for all moving violations. It’s time to get tough and start confiscating motorbikes and give violators jail time for serious or repeated offences.
There are basically three areas that should be addressed: Protective equipment: such as helmets – this has been done successfully after much effort, but now a large number of drivers are unprotected because the helmets are not safety approved and children continue to ride without protection despite the law; Engineering: improvement in the design of roadways and elimination of existing problem areas by using barriers, etc.., which I have seen more of recently; and Administration: training, licensing, driver records, stiff penalties, increased enforcement, and accurate accounting of accidents, injuries, fatalities.
Last week Vietnam News said 268 accidents were reported in HCMC this year with 240 deaths. This number simply doesn’t compute anywhere near reality (unless perhaps we are only counting accidents which included a fatality).
Based on a very well-recognized safety tool, the Safety Pyramid (a tool used by all safety professionals), 240 deaths would indicate approximately 72,000 accidents (compare this with the 268 reported) that would have resulted in injuries, 7,200 disabling injuries would be expected, and 72 million at-risk behaviors (violating traffic rules) for each fatality – that would be in HCMC alone in the first five months of 2012!
Yes, seventy-two million violations in five months in HCMC. Would we have enough space to print the names in the newspaper?
Posted: 04 Jul 2012 06:45 AM PDT
A motorbike in Hanoi carrying a heavy load has the pillion rider perched precariously and without a helmet. 2012, designated as the year of traffic safety, has continued to see a large number of accidents and traffic laws flouted.
Early this year the Prime Minister encouraged all local and regional officials to improve traffic in their respective regions. Just recently the Prime Minister "ordered all municipalities and agencies to continue their effort."
According to recent statistics, with the exception of some African countries, South East Asia, particularly Vietnam, has the highest accident rates recorded worldwide.
Almost immediately after the first warning statement, a Ho Chi Minh City official claimed a 50 percent reduction in accidents (Vietnam News).
Last week (Vietnam News, June 5) it was reported there was a 26 percent drop in accidents in the first five months.
Later in the week (Vietnam News, June 8), it was said that the targeted 10 percent decrease would not be achieved this year since there was only a slight change thus far in 2012.
In addition, it was claimed that there were only two traffic jams lasting more than 30 minutes this year in HCMC, as compared to last year’s 21 in the first five months – a huge reduction. It all seems a bit confusing and misleading at best. If we can’t be clear about the extent of the problem how can we attempt to manage the problem?
Now a campaign to shame has been bolstered by the Prime Minister. Apparently, traffic violators will have their names announced or published in newspapers in an attempt to shame the offenders. Although this was done somewhat effectively in the USA to shame criminals and drunk drivers, I’m not sure we can expect the same result here. In order for an individual to experience shame they must (1) have the awareness that they have done something wrong, and (2) they would then need to have the capability of accepting responsibility – prerequisites not easy to find. Additionally, comments written in “Talk around town” (Vietnam News, June 6) are not encouraging. Some of the younger people surveyed had similar responses: “Nobody cares… I don’t care… I think I feel nothing.” Other suggestions were made that the policy may only work for older people who have more of a sense of shame than the youngsters; another thought it might work for people in high level positions in the government.
 |
| Many expatriates have written to Vietweek concurring that despite the problems they face in Vietnam, it is simply not acceptable that people direct their anger and slurs at all Vietnamese. This forum, "Your two cents", opens the floor for you, the expats, to hold forth on the changes you see in Vietnam: what disappoints, what pleases and what you would like to see happen. Email your thoughts to editor@thanhniennews.com. |
When the shame scheme began two years ago it turned out to be ineffective: names were to be published and, in addition, offenders were to show remorse for their crimes – “but this rarely happened.”
How effective is shame in changing behavior? For some young drivers, it may even be a badge of honor among their peers. I guess anything is worth a try, however, considering the situation.
Violating traffic rules is the norm for many drivers, so how do we change the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of these people? Well, we know a few things about what causes accident: speeding, drinking, reckless driving, running red lights, etc.. And we know who the violators are: Young drivers, aged 15-25, cause 80 percent of accidents; alcohol is involved in 93 percent of accidents.
I would put my money on these groups of people. Driver education needs to begin early in all schools and violators must be subject to mandatory driver education along with substantial penalties for all moving violations. It’s time to get tough and start confiscating motorbikes and give violators jail time for serious or repeated offences.
There are basically three areas that should be addressed: Protective equipment: such as helmets – this has been done successfully after much effort, but now a large number of drivers are unprotected because the helmets are not safety approved and children continue to ride without protection despite the law; Engineering: improvement in the design of roadways and elimination of existing problem areas by using barriers, etc.., which I have seen more of recently; and Administration: training, licensing, driver records, stiff penalties, increased enforcement, and accurate accounting of accidents, injuries, fatalities.
Last week Vietnam News said 268 accidents were reported in HCMC this year with 240 deaths. This number simply doesn’t compute anywhere near reality (unless perhaps we are only counting accidents which included a fatality).
Based on a very well-recognized safety tool, the Safety Pyramid (a tool used by all safety professionals), 240 deaths would indicate approximately 72,000 accidents (compare this with the 268 reported) that would have resulted in injuries, 7,200 disabling injuries would be expected, and 72 million at-risk behaviors (violating traffic rules) for each fatality – that would be in HCMC alone in the first five months of 2012!
Yes, seventy-two million violations in five months in HCMC. Would we have enough space to print the names in the newspaper?
Saturday, January 15, 2011
It’s a national disaster | Look At Vietnam - Vietnam news daily update
It’s a national disaster
January 15, 2011 about News
 |
Victim of a motorbike accident sits on a sidewalk in HCMC’s Binh Thanh District. |
Sometimes, disasters are not so in-your-face, like a tsunami or an earthquake.
They could happen in bits and pieces, in trickles instead of a deluge, and we are not likely to see them as a full-scale disaster.
Last month, a national conference on traffic safety in Hanoi reported that 11,449 people were killed in 14,442 traffic accidents in the country last year. 10,663 others were injured.
Compared to the previous year, the number of cases increased by 1,788.
While the death toll went down by 47, the number of injuries went up by 2,500.
The figures get scarier if we look at them closely, and make a few calculations and comparisons.
The latest death toll means 31 people die every day, 217 a week - the casualty rate of a plane crash. At the current rate of traffic fatalities, the equivalent of the entire population of a mountainous district of 30,000 people would be wiped out in less than three years.
The consequences of these accidents don’t stop at the loss of life and the injuries sustained.
A report by the World Health Organization says that road accidents cost between 1-2 percent of GDP in developing countries. That kind of money, which can be used to help thousands of poor people, is spent on treating victims of traffic accidents.
The government set up a National Traffic Safety Committee, and several agencies to enforce traffic laws. Traffic safety news is aired every day on national television, and thousands of community activities are held to promote traffic safety.
But traffic accidents have not decreased. Why?
More than a month ago, I caught a bus from the central province of Quang Tri to Nghe An Province. Like most other buses running from the north to the south, this one was also old, and very crowded.
When it rained, the whole windshield became opaque, as wipers broke down. But, the driver was still speeding and almost crashed into vehicles running in the opposite direction many times.
It’s unbelievable that the lives of people on the bus were at risk because of broken windshield wipers and an irresponsible driver.
If traffic officials agree to take a trip from north to south by motorbike or an old bus like millions of ordinary people, instead of by plane or car, they will understand better the risks involved, and come up with more effective policies.
We are lucky to live in a peaceful country. But how peaceful is it when we face the threat of traffic accidents whenever we go out.
We have talked so much about the causes of traffic accidents – increasing urban population density, increasing number of vehicles, poor awareness of traffic regulations, infrastructural deficiencies and so on.
But, as long as we aren’t fully aware of the reasons behind and consequences of traffic accidents, we are doomed to revisit these figures every year. We have to recognize the scale of this problem: it is truly a national disaster.
They could happen in bits and pieces, in trickles instead of a deluge, and we are not likely to see them as a full-scale disaster.
Last month, a national conference on traffic safety in Hanoi reported that 11,449 people were killed in 14,442 traffic accidents in the country last year. 10,663 others were injured.
Compared to the previous year, the number of cases increased by 1,788.
While the death toll went down by 47, the number of injuries went up by 2,500.
The figures get scarier if we look at them closely, and make a few calculations and comparisons.
The latest death toll means 31 people die every day, 217 a week - the casualty rate of a plane crash. At the current rate of traffic fatalities, the equivalent of the entire population of a mountainous district of 30,000 people would be wiped out in less than three years.
The consequences of these accidents don’t stop at the loss of life and the injuries sustained.
A report by the World Health Organization says that road accidents cost between 1-2 percent of GDP in developing countries. That kind of money, which can be used to help thousands of poor people, is spent on treating victims of traffic accidents.
The government set up a National Traffic Safety Committee, and several agencies to enforce traffic laws. Traffic safety news is aired every day on national television, and thousands of community activities are held to promote traffic safety.
But traffic accidents have not decreased. Why?
More than a month ago, I caught a bus from the central province of Quang Tri to Nghe An Province. Like most other buses running from the north to the south, this one was also old, and very crowded.
When it rained, the whole windshield became opaque, as wipers broke down. But, the driver was still speeding and almost crashed into vehicles running in the opposite direction many times.
It’s unbelievable that the lives of people on the bus were at risk because of broken windshield wipers and an irresponsible driver.
If traffic officials agree to take a trip from north to south by motorbike or an old bus like millions of ordinary people, instead of by plane or car, they will understand better the risks involved, and come up with more effective policies.
We are lucky to live in a peaceful country. But how peaceful is it when we face the threat of traffic accidents whenever we go out.
We have talked so much about the causes of traffic accidents – increasing urban population density, increasing number of vehicles, poor awareness of traffic regulations, infrastructural deficiencies and so on.
But, as long as we aren’t fully aware of the reasons behind and consequences of traffic accidents, we are doomed to revisit these figures every year. We have to recognize the scale of this problem: it is truly a national disaster.
By Le Duc Duc (Tuoi Tre)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Traffic jams boom in Hanoi at the year-end | Look At Vietnam - Vietnam news daily update
VietNamNet Bridge – Gridlocks prolonged traffic flow for
hours in many major roads in the capital city at the end of the year.
hours in many major roads in the capital city at the end of the year.
At the starting point of Vietnam’s most modern avenue –
Thang Long.
Thang Long.
Nguyen Luong Bang
street at 12pm, December 30.
street at 12pm, December 30.
Hoang Minh Giam road.
Buses on the street.
Trang Thi
street at 11am, December 30.
street at 11am, December 30.
Khuat Duy Tien Road.
Nguyen Trai Road.
Motorbikes run on the sidewalk.
Nguyen Thai Hoc Road
Tay Son Road
PV
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Report: Thailand fails to crack down on ivory bazaars, much of it from African elephants
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's government has failed to crack down on one of the world's largest markets of illegal ivory, allowing vendors to openly sell products that come from African elephants, a conservation group said in a report released Friday.The group TRAFFIC, which monitors trade in wildlife, said that judging by recent seizures of ivory imports and exports and several surveys it has done since 2006, Thailand has surpassed traditional hotspots like Japan and China.Hundreds of venues from five-star hotels to the popular Chatuchak weekend market in the capital, Bangkok — which has by far the biggest markets in the country — were found to be selling tens of thousands of items, from pricey carvings of religious deities to cheaper bangles, belt buckles and knife handles.Much of the illegal ivory is smuggled from central African countries to workshops outside Bangkok, the British-based conservation group said. Merchants in the capital and to a lesser degree tourist cities like Chiang Mai sell the ivory products to locals as well as foreign tourists, benefiting from loopholes in current laws that make it hard to crack down on the trade.
Some of the items are also exported to markets in Europe and the United States."Thailand has consistently been identified as one of the world's top five countries most heavily implicated in the illicit ivory trade, but shows little sign of addressing outstanding issues," said Tom Milliken, of TRAFFIC, which oversees a global monitoring program, Elephant Trade Information."Thailand needs to reassess its policy for controlling its local ivory markets as currently it is not implementing international requirements to the ongoing detriment of both African and Asian Elephant populations," Milliken said.He said the booming Thai market is endemic of a larger problem in Southeast Asia, where countries including Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines have become key transit points for ivory that is bound for markets in China.TRAFFIC recommended that Thailand boost its regulation of the domestic ivory market, and amend a law that allows sales of domestic ivory. It also called on the government to streamline often-conflicting legislation related to the trade and to train Thai Customs officials in identifying illegal ivory."The Thai government needs to crack down on this serious illegal activity and stop allowing people to abuse the law," said Colman O'Criodain, the World Wide Fund For Nature's analyst on wildlife trade issues. "A good first step would be to put in place a comprehensive registration system for all ivory in trade and for live elephants."An official with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, who could not be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the report would be discussed at a government subcommittee on ivory trade control next week.The official acknowledged there was a "problem" with ivory sales in Bangkok but that it was hard to regulate since it can be difficult to differentiate between ivory that comes from domestic elephants and those from Africa. Some shops selling ivory items are registered with the government but he acknowledged many are not.The Thai official said the government was trying to address the problem partly through the passage of a new law called the Elephant Act, which would toughen regulations on the import and export of elephants and elephant products, including ivory.Shops or stalls selling ivory products in Bangkok are widespread. A visit to River City mall, a popular haunt of tourists and antique collectors, turned up 10 shops selling ivory carvings, necklaces or cigarette holders. All the merchants interviewed insisted their ivory came from Thailand or Myanmar, a claim disputed by Milliken who said the region doesn't have enough elephants to support the industry.At Chatuchak market, the owner of the Ethnic Tribe jewelry stall, Chotika Wongchan, was more forthcoming. She acknowledged she bought African ivory in bulk from another trader in the market and that her brother then crafted it into the rings and belt buckles she had on display."As a jeweler, it's no problem because we don't sell that much," she said.Thailand is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which banned trade in ivory in 1989 after a wholesale slaughter of African elephants by poachers in the 1970s and 1980s. But Thailand, unlike China and Japan, has done little to enforce the trade ban.___On the Net:http:www.traffic.org
more info-->>>Report: Thailand fails to crack down on ivory bazaars, much of it from African elephants -- Newsday.com
Some of the items are also exported to markets in Europe and the United States."Thailand has consistently been identified as one of the world's top five countries most heavily implicated in the illicit ivory trade, but shows little sign of addressing outstanding issues," said Tom Milliken, of TRAFFIC, which oversees a global monitoring program, Elephant Trade Information."Thailand needs to reassess its policy for controlling its local ivory markets as currently it is not implementing international requirements to the ongoing detriment of both African and Asian Elephant populations," Milliken said.He said the booming Thai market is endemic of a larger problem in Southeast Asia, where countries including Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines have become key transit points for ivory that is bound for markets in China.TRAFFIC recommended that Thailand boost its regulation of the domestic ivory market, and amend a law that allows sales of domestic ivory. It also called on the government to streamline often-conflicting legislation related to the trade and to train Thai Customs officials in identifying illegal ivory."The Thai government needs to crack down on this serious illegal activity and stop allowing people to abuse the law," said Colman O'Criodain, the World Wide Fund For Nature's analyst on wildlife trade issues. "A good first step would be to put in place a comprehensive registration system for all ivory in trade and for live elephants."An official with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, who could not be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the report would be discussed at a government subcommittee on ivory trade control next week.The official acknowledged there was a "problem" with ivory sales in Bangkok but that it was hard to regulate since it can be difficult to differentiate between ivory that comes from domestic elephants and those from Africa. Some shops selling ivory items are registered with the government but he acknowledged many are not.The Thai official said the government was trying to address the problem partly through the passage of a new law called the Elephant Act, which would toughen regulations on the import and export of elephants and elephant products, including ivory.Shops or stalls selling ivory products in Bangkok are widespread. A visit to River City mall, a popular haunt of tourists and antique collectors, turned up 10 shops selling ivory carvings, necklaces or cigarette holders. All the merchants interviewed insisted their ivory came from Thailand or Myanmar, a claim disputed by Milliken who said the region doesn't have enough elephants to support the industry.At Chatuchak market, the owner of the Ethnic Tribe jewelry stall, Chotika Wongchan, was more forthcoming. She acknowledged she bought African ivory in bulk from another trader in the market and that her brother then crafted it into the rings and belt buckles she had on display."As a jeweler, it's no problem because we don't sell that much," she said.Thailand is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which banned trade in ivory in 1989 after a wholesale slaughter of African elephants by poachers in the 1970s and 1980s. But Thailand, unlike China and Japan, has done little to enforce the trade ban.___On the Net:http:www.traffic.org
more info-->>>Report: Thailand fails to crack down on ivory bazaars, much of it from African elephants -- Newsday.com
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