The particularly serious accident in Lao Cai that killed 9 people, related to a contract car with a company headquartered in Hanoi, is not only the pain of the victims' families but also a warning bell about loopholes in contract car management and vehicle registration work today.
Over the past time, contract cars have developed rapidly, meeting the needs of tourism, picking up and dropping off workers, students, and people going to festivals and returning to their hometowns during holidays and Tet. However, accompanied by that explosion are many inadequacies. It is not difficult to encounter contract cars running "disguised" such as fixed routes, gathering passengers along the road, running overtime, speeding, drivers working continuously for many hours, but not being closely monitored.
Legally, contract vehicles already have a relatively complete regulatory framework. But in reality, the inspection and supervision stage has not kept up. Many transport businesses only focus on maximizing vehicle exploitation, not putting safety first. When accidents occur, the consequences are not only material damage but also human lives - the price is too high.
The fact that the Hanoi Department of Construction has just requested a comprehensive inspection of businesses related to the accident in Lao Cai is a necessary and timely move. But more importantly, the inspection work cannot only "heat up" after each serious incident.
Contract vehicle inspection needs to be carried out regularly, with focus and key points, especially during peak holidays and Tet. From legal documents, business conditions, vehicle badges, to driving time compliance, data from journey monitoring devices... everything must be seriously reviewed. Each trip carries dozens of people, and management laxity cannot be turned into risks on the road.
In parallel with inspecting transport business activities, vehicle registration work needs to be seen as an important technical "shield". Reality shows that many vehicles, even if they have been inspected, still pose a potential risk of unsafety: downgraded braking systems, worn tires, and unsafe equipment.
Holidays and Tet are approaching. Cars will continue to roll, bringing joy of reunion but also containing many risks if management is lax. Strengthening contract vehicle inspection and tightening registration is not to cause difficulties for businesses, but to protect themselves and passengers.
Each serious accident leaves irreparable pain. Therefore, it is time for traffic safety to be prioritized, with specific, continuous and uncompromising actions - especially on people's trips during the upcoming holidays and Tet.
