Ensuring traffic order and safety in extreme weather conditions
An Giang is the province at the headwaters of the Mekong River, with a network of dense river mouths and high-density waterway traffic. Currently in the rainy and stormy season, along with increasingly complex weather developments, the situation of waterway traffic safety and order (ATGT) poses many potential safety risks.
The rainy and stormy season in An Giang usually lasts from May to November every year, accompanied by thunderstorms, unusually heavy rain, and rising riverbank landslides. On major rivers such as the Hau River and the Tien River, passenger and cargo transportation activities are bustling. If not strictly inspected and controlled, water vehicles - especially at river-crossing passenger wharves and spontaneous ferries - can become a hot spot for traffic safety problems.
Right from the beginning of the rainy season, the Traffic Police Department of An Giang Provincial Police has developed and implemented a thematic plan to ensure traffic safety and order in extreme weather conditions. In particular, focusing on inspecting and monitoring the operations of wharves, ferry terminals, water transport vehicles and strengthening patrols and controls on key road routes.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Truong, Head of the Traffic Police Department of An Giang Provincial Police, said: "We have established specialized working groups to regularly inspect wharves and ferry terminals, especially spontaneous wharves, requiring vehicle owners to strictly implement regulations on waterway traffic safety. All operating vehicles must be fully equipped with life jackets, life buoys, communication equipment... Violations will be strictly handled to prevent risks".
Through on-site inspections at ferry terminals, cross-river passenger wharves and transport facilities, the traffic police force discovered that there were still some limitations, such as lack of life buoys, incomplete warning signs, and failure to update natural disaster prevention plans... The inspection team promptly reminded and requested business owners to promptly overcome shortcomings to ensure absolute safety for passengers and vehicles during the rainy and stormy season.
Do not let unfortunate consequences occur due to subjectivity or violations
On the road, the Traffic Police Teams increased patrols, strictly handled violations of speed regulations, did not turn on lights when it rained, did not control the steering wheel when the road was slippery, overloaded... At the same time, arranged forces to promptly regulate traffic in areas at risk of local flooding, black spots of accidents or congestion due to landslides and fallen trees.
Lieutenant Colonel Luu Thanh Giang - Officer of the Traffic Police Department of An Giang Provincial Police shared: "In recent inspections, we have found that the awareness of compliance of people and vehicle owners has been significantly increased. However, there are still a number of people who operate watercraft and cars that do not fully comply with safety regulations when storms occur. The Department is strengthening propaganda and handling, determined not to let unfortunate consequences arise due to subjectivity or violations".
Along with patrolling and controlling, the Traffic Police Department also promotes propaganda in many forms: direct propaganda at ferry terminals, floating markets, bus terminals, residential areas... helping people raise awareness of skills to control vehicles in bad weather conditions, how to use life jackets properly, warn of risks and instructions on how to handle situations when encountering incidents...
"Since the beginning of the rainy season, we have always proactively coordinated with the Traffic Police Department to review the safety conditions of the wharf. All vehicles are fully equipped with life jackets, warning signs and flood and storm prevention plans. We also regularly remind people not to jostle, wear full life jackets when getting off the boat. This is not just a regulation, but to protect our own lives, said Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan, owner of the owner of the Liberation 9 ferry terminal, Rach Gia ward.
