Vietnam records 89 traffic deaths over Lunar New Year holiday

Vietnam reported 152 traffic accidents nationwide over the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet), that killed 89 people and injured 111.

Vietnam reported 152 traffic accidents nationwide over the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet), that killed 89 people and injured 111.

The figures cover seven days until Thursday, the fifth day of Lunar New Year, according to the Ministry of Public Security's traffic police department.

The number of traffic accidents and deaths this Tet was down by 12 and three compared to the same period last year, respectively, while the figure of injuries was up by eight.

There were 147 road traffic accidents, killing 85 people and injuring 109. For railway traffic, there were four fatalities and one injury. Along waterways, there was one injury.

A traffic accident on Thanh Cong Street, Ha Dong district, Hanoi. Photo courtesy of VietNamNet newspaper.

Regarding road violations, traffic police nationwide handled 21,990 cases, with fines reaching over VND50 billion ($2.13 million).

Cases of drunk driving hit 7,726, accounting for 35% of the total, up 6,600.

According to the Health Ministry, there were more than 26,400 cases of medical examination and emergency related to traffic accidents in the seven days, up 13.5% year-on-year. But the number of traffic deaths dropped 3.7%.