Road Safety

Whether walking or driving, Vietnam’s roads are dangerous. While traffic is usually flowing, accidents happen every day. Approximately 14,000 people lose their lives each year in Vietnam as a result of road traffic crashes. That’s nearly 40 people every day. Motorcyclists account for a high proportion (approximately 59 percent) of the road traffic collisions in the country.

The majority of deaths and injuries on the roads are among those aged between 15 and 49 years — the group that makes up 56 percent of the total population, and the most economically active group. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 29 years in Vietnam.

Road injuries may be significantly reduced by the simple act of wearing a helmet. While Vietnam has a generally successful helmet law, issues arise because people either wear poor quality (or ‘fake’) helmets or don’t wear helmets at all. Certified helmets are proven to reduce the risk of death by 42 percent and severe injury by 69 percent in the event of a crash.

Simple Steps for Safety

While accidents aren’t completely avoidable, there are some ways that one can protect themselves should the unfortunate occurrence of an accident happen:

• Wear a real certified helmet. Helmets are a must, but it is essential that the helmet you wear is properly certified, as a fake one can shatter at the time of a crash, which will actually cause more damage than not wearing one at all. Vendors for certified helmets include HJC (72 Chua Ha, Cau Giay, Hanoi); Protec (12B Ngoc Khanh, Ba Dinh, Hanoi and 18 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Q1, HCMC), Andes (at shops around the country and 249-251 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Q3, HCMC); and Saigon Scooter Centre (35 Quoc Huong, Q2, HCMC).
• Don’t drink and drive. Also, don’t get on the back of a motorbike of someone who has been drinking. When in doubt, take a taxi.
• Get insurance. Breaks, fractures and other injuries from road accidents can result in expensive treatment, so getting insurance is a good way to ensure that you can get the best treatment possible.
• Get a Vietnamese motorbike license. Most insurance companies will not cover the cost of treatment for road accidents if the driver does not have a license from the country that they are driving in. You can have the best insurance in the world, but it probably won’t cover you if you’re driving without certification.

When in doubt, see a doctor. Severe burns, cuts or fractures can result in a more serious condition if not properly treated. It may turn out to be nothing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Dr. Brian McNaull - Medical Director, Family Medical Practice Hanoi