Railway accidents increase sharply: Many subjective mistakes from people

In the first 5 months of 2025, railway traffic accidents continued to be complicated, with some particularly serious cases occurring at level crossings between roads and railways. The main cause was limited public awareness of traffic laws; at the same time, encroachment on railway corridors also contributed to increasing the risk of accidents.

Number of accidents increased by 300% in the first 5 months of the year

According to the Ministry of Construction , in the first 5 months of 2025, there were 8 railway traffic accidents, causing 4 deaths and 2 injuries - an increase of 6 cases (up 300%) and 2 deaths (up 100%) compared to the same period in 2024. The main reason is that people's awareness of traffic law compliance is still limited. At the same time, encroachment on railway corridors also contributes to increasing the risk of accidents.

In this situation, the Ministry of Construction requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct functional units and local authorities to strengthen the assurance of railway traffic order and safety. Localities need to step up the dissemination of laws on railway traffic; integrate traffic safety requirements when allocating land and approving planning for residential areas near railways. At the same time, strictly implement regulations on railway traffic safety corridors.

The Ministry of Construction also requested localities to closely coordinate with the Vietnam Railway Authority and the Vietnam Railway Corporation in implementing the coordination regulations between the Ministry of Construction and localities with railways passing through. In particular, it is necessary to organize guard posts or lookouts at dangerous self-opened paths, build service roads, isolation fences, narrow or remove illegally opened paths. Organize the installation of railway traffic safety corridor boundary markers and hand them over to localities for management. People's Committees of provinces and cities need to direct functional forces to inspect and strictly handle violations such as reopening closed self-opened paths, removing barriers, encroaching on railway traffic safety corridors, or deliberately crossing level crossings when there are warning signals and barriers.

The Ministry of Construction also requested the Vietnam Railway Authority to increase legal dissemination to people living along the railway, especially in high-risk areas of level crossings and self-opened paths. At the same time, coordinate with local police to investigate the cause of the accident and strictly handle violations of corridors and traffic rules on the railway. Regarding the Vietnam Railway Corporation, the Ministry requested to strengthen inspection of staff directly serving train operations, especially on-duty officers, train drivers, level crossing guards, and bridge guards. It is necessary to strictly handle organizations and individuals who are subjective and allow accidents to occur.

In addition, continue to implement plans to build safe infrastructure such as service roads, isolation fences, remove illegally opened paths, set up railway traffic safety corridor markers and hand over management according to regulations.

Illustration photo.

The act of throwing soil, rocks and dirt onto trains happens continuously.

Also related to railway traffic safety, Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee Le Kim Thanh informed that since the beginning of the year, violations of railway traffic safety laws with acts of throwing soil, rocks, and dirty substances onto trains have continuously occurred, with an increasing trend and very complicated developments, directly threatening train safety. These acts have caused a lot of property damage to the railway industry, affecting the psychology of passengers and railway staff working on trains.

According to statistics, from January 1 to May 12, 2025, there were 57 cases of throwing soil and rocks at trains nationwide. The most cases were in Khanh Hoa province with 13 cases, followed by Dong Nai with 6 cases, Quang Binh with 5 cases, Hue city with 5 cases, Ninh Thuan with 5 cases, Quang Ngai with 3 cases, Binh Dinh with 3 cases. Thanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Phu Yen, Lao Cai provinces each had 2 cases. In addition, this situation also occurred in some localities such as Hanoi , Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Ninh Binh, Quang Tri, Yen Bai, Vinh Phuc, Binh Thuan.

To prevent violations, improve train safety, maintain security and order, and create a good image in the eyes of international friends when restoring and organizing the operation of passenger trains between Vietnam and China through the Dong Dang-Bang Tuong border gate, the National Traffic Safety Committee requests the Traffic Safety Committees of 34 provinces and cities with railways passing through to advise the Provincial People's Committees to direct functional agencies to continue to pay attention to coordinating and supporting railway units stationed in the area.

Local authorities (communes, wards) along both sides of the railway, schools, educational centers, vocational training centers... regularly propagate and mobilize people and students to comply with legal regulations on road and railway traffic safety and order; organize signing of commitments not to throw soil, rocks, and dirty substances onto trains; organize broadcasting on media, propagate the prohibition of violations (throwing soil, rocks, and dirty substances onto trains) and strictly handle violations according to legal regulations.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Giao-thong/tai-nan-duong-sat-tang-manh-nhieu-loi-chu-quan-tu-nguoi-dan-i770726/