Govt officials review efforts to improve road safety

The National Secretariat Committee on Road Safety and associated groups met in Vientiane on Thursday to review their work to improve road safety over the past five years.
Participants also discussed possible future joint activities with the aim of joining forces to reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities.
The meeting was led by the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Dr Bounchanh Sinthavong, and took place at the National Convention Centre. It was attended by representatives of international organisations, traffic police, transport officials and emergency rescue teams. 
Speaking at the meeting, Director General of the Department of Transport under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Dr Bounta Onnavong, said a road safety project took place from 2014-2018, with a focus on road safety management, infrastructure, safe vehicles, road user behaviour, and post-crash response.
The number of vehicles is continuing to increase, which is leading to more accidents and traffic congestion. According to statistics from the National Secretariat Committee on Road Safety, at the start of the project in 2014 there were 5,072 road accidents throughout the year, in which 9,264 people sustained injuries and 1,054 people died.
In 2015, the number of accidents increased to 5,571 nationwide, in which 8,677 people were injured and 995 people died.
In 2016, there were 5,616 accidents, resulting in injuries to 8,919 people and 1,086 fatalities.
In 2017, a total of 5,868 accidents were recorded, in which 9,640 people were injured and 1,053 people died. In 2018, the number of accidents rose further to 5,984, injuring 9,372 people and killing 995.
These statistics indicate that on average each year from 2014-2018 there were 15 deaths for every 100,000 people in the country.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Health, international organisations and other groups are continuing to seek ways to prevent road accidents as well as help accident victims.
The authorities have strengthened a decree relating to the enforcement of traffic regulations. A Road Safety Week was organised when information on the traffic regulations was distributed and the dangers of careless driving emphasised.
Work is ongoing to provide road users with a better understanding of the traffic rules and the dangers of being involved in an accident. The authorities are also trying to make roads safer by widening junctions, building roundabouts, improving and installing more traffic symbols and signs, and painting more lane markings and other indicators on roads.
In the future, the authorities will continue support for road safety and provide more assistance to the victims of accidents by providing first aid before taking people to hospital, and assisting with their recovery and treatment. 
There are plans to build a dispatch centre and commission the hotline number 1195 for emergency assistance as well as to partner with foundations, rescue associations and the private sector in victim support.

By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update October 11, 2019)