Traffic accidents during the first six days of Tet, from February 13 to 18, were 26 per cent higher than during Tet 2009, according to Vietnam's National Traffic Police Department.

Do Quang Chien, an official at the department, said 287 people had been killed and 425 seriously injured, compared with 258 killed and 306 seriously injured in 2009.

However, the major cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang reported fewer accidents than last year, while rural provinces suffered increases.

"Alcohol is the main cause of the traffic accidents, along with the increase in traffic during Tet," Tran Van Thai, head of the traffic police department in the province of Nghe An, told the German Press Agency dpa.

Vietnam began enforcing laws requiring motorbike drivers to wear helmets at the end of 2007, and compliance is widespread but not universal. Authorities reported that of some 14,000 accidents in the first three days of Tet, 650 involved motorbike drivers not wearing helmets.

Traffic accidents killed 11,516 people and injured 7,914 last year, an average of 31 people killed each day.

Deutsche Presse Agentur - February 22, 2010