Forty-eight people were killed and 61 others injured in 82 crashes across Vietnam during the first four days of the seven-day Tet break (2023 Lunar New Year) starting last Friday, the traffic safety agency reported.

The accidents included 80 on roads and one each on the waterway and railway, the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) reported on Monday, citing the Ministry of Public Security.

Compared to the same period of last year’s Tet, the numbers of crashes and fatalities declined by five (5.7 percent) and three (5.9 percent), respectively, while the injuries rose by 16 (35.6 percent), the NTSC said.

Among the total casualties, 10 deaths and 13 injuries were recorded in 18 accidents that happened on Monday, the fourth day of the Tet break and the second day of the Lunar New Year.

During the day, traffic police handled 1,683 cases of traffic violations, imposed fines nearing VND3.45 billion (US$146,800) on the violators, impounded 47 cars, 932 motorbikes and two other vehicles, and revoked 309 driver’s licenses.

Among the traffic violators were 646 drivers under the influence of alcohol, four abusing drugs, and 85 others overspeeding.

Notably, the said number of drunk drivers increased by as many as 588 cases from the same day of last year’s Tet.

The NTSC reported that its staff in charge of the agency’s hotline received, verified, and handled three calls and messages from people reporting violations of traffic order and safety on Monday.

In 2022, 11,450 crashes occurred nationwide, killing 6,384 people and injuring 7,804 people, according to the ministry’s Traffic Police Department.  

The total figure included 11,323 road accidents that killed 6,265 people and injuring 7,777 others, 95 railway accidents that took 74 lives and wounded 21 victims, and the remainder occurring on the waterway.

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