On the afternoon of April 6, on DT716 route passing through Hoa Thang commune, a passenger car carrying 16 people suddenly lost control and plunged into a ravine near Bau Trang tourist area. The accident killed 4 people and injured many others.
The second incident occurred on the morning of April 8th on the Ta Zon mountainside (Ham Thuan commune). A truck carrying supplies driven by driver Nguyen Tien Truong suddenly plunged into a ravine while moving on a mountain pass. As a result, 3 people died and the driver was seriously injured.
Both incidents occurred on dangerous steep mountainous terrain, vehicles plunged into ravines, showing a very high level of risk when traveling on mountain roads.
Dangerous mountain passes are reality. But accidents are not inevitable. First of all, we must look directly at the human factor. Many accidents on mountain passes originate from subjective errors: inexperienced driving, misjudging situations, using brakes incorrectly, or being subjective about load and speed. Pass roads are not like flat roads. A small mistake can cost life.
But in reality, many truck and passenger car drivers are still assigned to drive on dangerous roads without being formally trained in downhill driving skills, handling brake failures or speed control. This is a big loophole. Driving on slopes cannot be considered just "oral experience". It must be a mandatory skill, trained and strictly tested.
Second is the issue of vehicles. Trucks carrying supplies, passenger cars carrying many people but not being fully technically inspected before going up the pass is a clear risk. Brake failure, poor quality tires, unsafe safety systems, these factors can all turn the car into a "bomb" on the mountainside.
It is worth mentioning that many transport businesses still put profits above safety. Cars are still allowed to run even if they do not meet technical standards, or are overloaded when climbing mountains. When accidents occur, the consequences are not only property damage, but also irreparable losses.
It is undeniable that many pass routes in Vietnam still have "black spots" such as sharp curves, limited visibility, lack of railings, and unreasonable signs. In those conditions, even a small mistake can cause serious consequences.
However, infrastructure cannot be an excuse. Even if it cannot be upgraded synchronously, risks can still be reduced by specific solutions such as adding speed bumps, clear signs, escape lanes, increasing lighting and monitoring.
It is not possible to continue to consider mountain pass accidents as "fate". To limit accidents, it is necessary to require in-depth training in mountain pass driving skills for truck and passenger car drivers; tighten technical inspection of vehicles before traveling on dangerous routes; strictly handle transport businesses that violate safety regulations. At the same time, it is necessary to review all traffic black spots to promptly have renovation solutions.
The pass is dangerous but completely controllable. Let it be a place to experience nature, not a lurking danger.
