A traffic accident (TNGT) occurred on the morning of February 18th at Km48+200 on the Cam Lo – La Son expressway in Thua Thien – Hue province. An 7-seater car with license plate 36A-485.67 collided with a semi-truck with license plate 63C-136.59, resulting in the death of 3 people. This incident has sparked conflicting opinions from the public. Some argue that the traffic infrastructure design at the accident location on this expressway reveals several flaws.
The car is completely wrecked.
According to Mr. Uong Viet Dung, Chief of Office of the Ministry of Transport, the cause of the accident needs to await the conclusion from the investigating authorities. The Vietnam Road Administration has also conducted inspections and reviews of the accident locations on the expressway. The Cam Lo – La Son expressway was constructed in accordance with the approved design, with sufficient traffic signs, lane markings, and lane separation signs…
“The Ministry of Transport advises the public on the principles of organizing traffic and participating in traffic on the Cam Lo – La Son expressway. All drivers must comply with the regulations of the law, pay attention to distance, ensure speed, and overtake vehicles only at authorized sections… Moreover, when the expressway is put into operation, it has undergone inspections from the design phase to the construction phase, ensuring adherence to the approved design before being put into operation,” said Mr. Uong Viet Dung.
According to traffic experts, in Phase I of the project, the Cam Lo – La Son expressway was designed with 2 lanes, separated by lane markings. Only at the locations where overtaking is permitted, there are 2 lanes separated by rigid barriers. Although the sign system on the expressway is relatively complete, if drivers lack concentration and observation, there may be dangers at the end of overtaking sections due to the design of some sections resembling a bottleneck. When reaching the end of an overtaking section, drivers need to merge into a “2-lane into 1” configuration, and at these “turning points,” limited visibility can also pose a safety hazard…
Authorities are conducting an urgent investigation into the cause of the accident.
Regarding the accident, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued Circular No. 14/CD-TTg to the Ministers of Public Security, Transport; Chairmen of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, urging them to address the serious consequences of the particularly severe traffic accident on the Cam Lo – La Son expressway in Thua Thien Hue province.
Specifically, the Prime Minister has requested the Ministry of Transport to direct the Vietnam Road Administration to cooperate with relevant agencies to review and strengthen the organization of reasonable traffic on the Cam Lo – La Son expressway and the transportation infrastructure system on other important expressways and national highways, especially those with only 2 lanes and no emergency stopping lane. Furthermore, attention should be given to the addition of rescue structures, emergency holes, and emergency rescue systems on expressways and national highways nationwide.
