On November 22, a memorial service for victims of traffic accidents in Ho Chi Minh City was solemnly held, chaired by the Department of Construction - Standing Agency of the Traffic Safety Committee (ATGT) of Ho Chi Minh City. The event aims to express gratitude to those who have passed away and remind the community of the urgency of road safety issues.
2025 is the 14th year that Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City have responded to this humane event, with the message: "Act for a safe and civilized traffic environment - For those who are living".
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year around the world, about 1.3 million people die and 50 million people are injured in traffic accidents. In Vietnam, an average of more than 20 people die and nearly 30 people are injured every day.
Sharing at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Thai Son, representing thousands of victims' families, choked up as he recounted his family's tragedy. He said that on September 20, his wife and two children (one born in 2019, one born in 2023) passed away forever due to the act of driving after consuming alcohol by a traffic participant.
"In an instant, I lost the whole family, who were happy and joyful. My two children are still too young... should have grown up in the love of their parents, grandparents... but everything has stopped forever," Mr. Son choked up.
Mr. Son added that traffic accidents are a big nightmare, taking away parents, couples, children or pillars in the family. That cool loss is not only pain but also an emptiness, a deep grief and regret every day.
On behalf of the families, he earnestly hopes that everyone when participating in traffic should comply with traffic safety and order, travel safely so that no one has to go through painful tragedies, so that life is always peaceful and happy.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Vo Khanh Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Safety Committee, gave alarming figures.
As of November 2025, Ho Chi Minh City recorded 1,926 traffic accidents. The death toll was 961 people, and 1,121 people were injured. The mortality rate from the total number of accidents is up to 49.8%.
According to the data collected in three areas (old Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau), there are an average of 2.9 deaths per day.
Mr. Hung also pointed out worrying violations in Ho Chi Minh City: 71.8% of violators said they violated because they "did not see the traffic police force"; 55% followed others; 56.8% thought that "the road should be avoided by the traffic police".
According to international studies, only exceeding the allowable speed by 5% can increase the risk of accidents by 10% and the risk of death by 20%. Pedestrians have an 80% chance of dying if they are hit at 50km/h, while there is a 90% chance of surviving if they are hit at 30km/h or less.
Mr. Vo Khanh Hung expressed his hope that the younger generation will become the core force in spreading the habit of participating in safe traffic, contributing to building a civilized, modern and developing at the regional level.
