Director of Traffic Police Department warns of unsafe conditions when planting trees on median strips

On September 16, the Traffic Police Department said it would recommend to authorities to limit the planting of trees on median strips on traffic routes, especially on highways, to prevent and limit accidents.

Watering trees on the highway is related to a series of accidents that occurred on the Phap Van - Ninh Binh highway, injuring 10 people and seriously damaging 3 cars. Specifically, at about 9:18 a.m. on September 15, a limousine with license plate 29E-127.XX driven by Tran Van T. (born in 1995) was traveling on the Phap Van - Ninh Binh highway. At Km222+800 (in Ninh Binh province), the car suddenly crashed into a watering truck driven by Nguyen Huu C (born in 1982) who was driving close to the median strip. The strong collision caused the limousine to overturn, and then 2 other cars traveling in the same direction crashed into it. The accident injured 10 people in the limousine, and 11 others in the 30-seat passenger car suffered scratches.

Accident scene.

After the accident, the Traffic Police Department coordinated with other forces to quickly rescue the injured. At the same time, it coordinated with the Investigation Agency to verify and investigate the cause of the accident. The Traffic Police Department's leaders assigned the Road and Railway Traffic Patrol and Control Guidance Department to work with highway management units to thoroughly ensure safety when caring for trees, maintaining and repairing them. The Department also coordinated with the Investigation Agency to verify and clarify the responsibilities of the management unit and the procedures for mobilizing vehicles operating on the highway.

It is known that the risk of unsafe planting of trees in the median strip has been identified and recommended by the Traffic Police Department. Most recently, on September 12, at a meeting between the Traffic Police Department, the Vietnam Road Administration and the Vietnam Register, Major General Do Thanh Binh, Director of the Traffic Police Department, warned about this.

The Director of the Traffic Police Department said that experience in many countries shows that it is necessary to limit the planting of trees on median strips, but in our country it is happening commonly. "We need to re-evaluate and have standards for how wide the median strip must be to be eligible for planting trees. Because when planting trees, there must be activities such as caring for, fertilizing, pruning, watering... all of which have the potential to cause traffic insecurity" - Major General Do Thanh Binh said, at the same time mentioning the current situation on the Thang Long Avenue Expressway ( Hanoi ) where trees often cover up signs, causing difficulties for traffic participants.

The Director of the Traffic Police Department also gave examples such as in Tokyo (Japan) and Seoul (Korea), they put concrete median strips and fences on top, and only plant trees in places that are wide enough to ensure safety.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Giao-thong/cuc-truong-cuc-csgt-canh-bao-mat-an-toan-khi-trong-cay-o-dai-phan-cach-giua-i781531/