Hanoi aims to bring down the number of traffic accidents by 5% and reduce traffic congestion in 2024.

The target was set in a plan signed by Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thi Tuyen that aims to make Hanoi the leading city in ensuring traffic order and safety.

To achieve this, it is necessary to refine institutions and policies, ensure effective management of traffic, raise people's sense of responsibility, and prevent and combat corruption among personnel directly involved in ensuring traffic order and safety.

In addition, Hanoi will improve the efficiency of traffic law education, raise driver awareness and build a traffic culture, strengthen inspection and handling of traffic violations.

Traffic jam on Nguyen Trai Street in Hanoi's Thanh Xuan District during rush hour. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times

In particular, officials and Party members are urged not to violate traffic regulations or interfere with the work of the police in dealing with traffic violations. The plan set the goal of strictly and promptly processing, investigating and dealing with traffic accidents and those who resist traffic police orders by the law.

Hanoi has applied modern science and technology and promoted digital transformation in transportation, such as the use of GovOne software in infrastructure management, the GPS tracker for online tracking of all bus routes, and a surveillance camera system to monitor urban traffic.

At the same time, Hanoi will advance investment in infrastructure to solve chronic traffic congestion.

Since 2016, the city has reduced traffic congestion on about 80 roads and intersections. However, new traffic jams have appeared due to the rapid increase in traffic volume. Many traffic infrastructure development projects have also been delayed due to lack of funding, while others are behind schedule due to slow site clearance.

Therefore, it is essential to continue to implement the target program to mitigate traffic congestion and ensure traffic safety in the city in 2024-2026. Accordingly, Hanoi authorities have set a target to reduce the number of congested roads by seven to ten every year and make sure there will be no accident black spots.

The Hanoi government has made a plan to spend a total of over VND1.8 trillion (US$79.1 million) to curb traffic congestion and ensure traffic safety in the city in 2021-2025. Meanwhile, polluting industries, universities, vocational schools, and administrative units will be relocated out of downtown Hanoi to free up land for transportation activities.

Notably, Hanoi will build an online digital traffic map for traffic management, operation and regulation, and develop an intelligent parking system to help people find and pay for parking conveniently.