Efforts to reduce traffic accidents in ethnic minority areas in Gia Lai

Dozens of people participate in sloppiness and weaving, violating traffic laws

According to statistics from the Traffic Safety Committee of Gia Lai province, in the first 10 months of the year, the whole province had 561 traffic accidents, killing 413 people and injuring 349 people. Although the number of accidents has decreased in all three criteria compared to the same period last year, the number of deaths and injuries is still high. Especially traffic accidents in ethnic minority areas.

The awareness of a part of the people, especially ethnic minorities, of complying with the Road Traffic Law is still quite limited; this makes the work of ensuring traffic order and safety subject to many unpredictable developments.

A typical case is that on November 30, 2025, during a patrol, the Hra Commune Police discovered and promptly stopped a group of about 28 teenagers (born from 2007-2010) gathering in the area of Jo Long Dam, Bok Aiol.

This group used motorbikes to run at high speed, exchanging speed, weaving and showed signs of preparing to livestream on Facebook and TikTok to attract views. The working group stopped the vehicle, conducted an administrative inspection and made a list of all related cases. Many students are not old enough to drive motorbikes according to regulations, posing a high risk to themselves and other road users.

Previously, many people and tourists panicked and worried when they saw about 30-40 teenagers gathering, driving motorbikes in a sluggish, revved-up position, showing signs of illegal racing at the beach entertainment spot, in Bien Ho commune, Gia Lai province.

Immediately, the Traffic Police Department coordinated with the 113 Police force and the Bien Ho Commune Police to conduct an inspection. The group of teenagers did not comply with the order, drove in many directions, forcing the police force to chase and arrest them.

Through inspection, the police force seized 28 motorbikes in violation. The violations were handled including: underage driving, reckless driving, small wheels, no driver's license... The Traffic Police Department temporarily detained 28 violating vehicles. Most of the young people gathered were underage and did not have a driver's license.

Strengthening propaganda, raising legal awareness among adolescents

According to the Traffic Police Department of Gia Lai Province Police, despite stepping up propaganda work, in many hamlets and villages in remote areas, people have not proactively raised their awareness of complying with the Road Traffic Law. In particular, the situation of ethnic minority youth driving vehicles without a driver's license or modified vehicles; not wearing helmets, speeding and reckless overtaking is still quite common.

Since the beginning of the year, the police forces of communes and wards in Gia Lai have made a list of many teenagers who frequently violate traffic safety order to monitor, call and question to deter. At the same time, coordinate with village, hamlet and residential group organizations to organize propaganda and request families to sign a commitment to coordinate in reminding and managing their children, avoiding gathering, driving motorbikes at high speeds, reckless overtaking, causing traffic safety and security and order in the locality.

The commune police organize many legal dissemination sessions in villages, hamlets, and residential groups; meet and take advantage of prestigious village elders to propagate and mobilize children and grandchildren when participating in traffic to strictly comply with the Road Traffic Law. At the same time, coordinate with the Youth Union and the Police of communes to organize traffic law dissemination sessions for teachers, staff and students of high schools and secondary schools, attracting thousands of participants.

During the propaganda process often associated with the grassroots charity program, Traffic Police teams in communes also gave many gifts to people in difficult circumstances; gave hundreds of helmets to people participating in the propaganda sessions.

Along with strengthening the dissemination of the Road Traffic Law in villages with a large number of ethnic minorities, the Police coordinate with grassroots organizations to directly visit each household to propagate, mobilize, manage, and educate children, not to give children vehicles that are not qualified to drive vehicles on the road. In cases where there is no driver's license, in addition to directly punishing the driver, the authorities also punish the person who gives the vehicle.

Lieutenant Colonel Luong Thi Thu Quynh - Head of the Traffic Police Department of Gia Lai Provincial Police - said: "In the coming time, especially the Lunar New Year, the police force will increase patrolling, control, and ensure traffic safety and order; strictly handle violations, especially violations of alcohol concentration, speeding, swerving, weaving, and vehicles that do not ensure technical safety.

At the same time, continue to promote propaganda work to raise awareness of people's compliance with the Road Traffic Law. We also direct the police of communes to review and make a list of subjects who frequently violate to propagate and educate individuals".

In addition to fines, the work of propagating and educating traffic laws in accordance with the culture of ethnic minority areas is of special importance. In particular, communicating in ethnic languages such as Jrai, Bahnar, Ende... helps people understand, absorb and comply better.

Commune People's Committees, the Front and mass organizations combine traffic safety content in village meetings, traditional festivals, and community activities to improve propaganda effectiveness.

The Education sector also coordinated to organize programs to help students learn safe driving skills and understand traffic principles early; at the same time, organized training for teenagers and parents - a group of subjects who participate in traffic a lot but have limited compliance.

In addition to human factors, traffic infrastructure also greatly affects the number of accidents. Despite basic investment, the transportation system in many localities is still inadequate. Therefore, the authorities of the communes recommend that the Provincial People's Committee pay attention to allocating annual funding to repair and upgrade black spots of traffic accidents; invest in lighting systems, priority signs and directions on roads with high traffic density.