According to the Yangon Traffic Police Force, the city recorded 11,970 road accidents that caused 19,095 injuries and 3,480 deaths between January 1 and September 30 this year.
This means that on average, Yangon has seen 44 accidents, 70 injuries and 13 deaths every day in the first nine months of this year.
Zaw Min Oo, director of the Inland Transportation Department told Popular News Journal: “The rate of accidents is also increasing in Myanmar as the number of vehicles is increasing, just like other developing countries. Therefore, we need to prioritise providing awareness about road safety, like other ASEAN countries.”
A new five-year programme to reduce the numbers of accidents, injuries and deaths on the road will encourage four habits: wearing seatbelts; wearing helmets while riding bicycles; not driving after consuming alcohol or other drugs; and not using mobile phones while driving.
Lower House MP U Htun Htun Hein, who is a member of the Draft Law Committee, told Kumudra Journal: “We are amending the Motor Vehicle Law in order to take action across the country.”
