Vietnam has become part of an international traffic safety campaign regarding the reduction of traffic crashes across the Southeast Asian country.

Vietnam’s National Committee for Traffic Safety, in coordination with the International Automobile Federation (FIA), organized a ceremony in Hanoi on Tuesday afternoon to commence the #3500LIVES campaign in the country.

The event attracted thousands of Vietnamese residents and high school and university students, who helped raised awareness of traffic safety and the ‘12 golden rules’ for road users that were established by the FIA.

According to the FIA, about 3,500 people worldwide are killed on the roads on a daily basis.

The #3500LIVES campaign was first launched by the FIA in 2017 to act as a reminder of the alarming traffic-related death rate, thus encouraging people to play their role in making safer roads for all.   

Participants at the event. Photo: Nam Long / Tuoi Tre

It also calls on governments to prioritize road safety and introduce effective legislation on key risk factors on the road.

The program has been launched in 80 nations and territories so far.

Speaking at the ceremony, Jean Todt, FIA’s president and Special Envoy for Road Safety of the UN Secretary-General, highlighted that traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for young people between 15 and 29 year olds.

In Vietnam, about 68 people are killed in road accidents every day, and the government has been taking certain measures to alleviate the situation, Todt elaborated.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, who is also head of the National Committee for Traffic Safety. Photo: Nam Long / Tuoi Tre

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, who is also head of the country’s national traffic safety committee, believed that the global #3500LIVES campaign is very meaningful in Vietnam, where traffic-related issues are still a challenge.

“It will be a motivation for Vietnam to strive for a modern, civilized, and efficient transport system, which provides a safe traffic environment,” Binh remarked.

The campaign also marks a big step in the country’s efforts to minimize casualties caused by road crashes, as well as indicates the government’s strong commitment to promote a safe, humane, and friendly Vietnam to the international community, he added.

During the event, Deputy Prime Minister Binh also announced that Vietnam is honored to be the first representative of Asia that commits to implementing the UN’s traffic accident reduction goal.

In 2015, the UN set the goal of cutting the fatalities in road accidents by 50 percent in a period of five years.

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