Vietnam police 'fish' for dangerous riders

Nov 26, 2011 |

HANOI

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It gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘police dragnet’ authorities in Vietnam have been using giant fishing nets to stop reckless bikers in their tracks, an officer said on Friday.

"We threw the net onto the rear of the vehicles and it clung to the wheels, forcing the bikes to stop," said Lieutenant Colonel My Duy Xuan, head of traffic police in northern Thanh Hoa City.

The practice has only caused very minor injuries to some riders, he told the media.

The unorthodox tactic has proven effective in stopping motorcycle racers and other dangerous riders, Xuan said, and his force has successfully netted 21 motorbike riders in the past month.

After-dark motorcycle races are common in Vietnam's large cities, where traffic safety rules are routinely ignored and motorcycles remain the most popular form of transport.

More than 12,000 people were killed in road traffic accidents last year in Vietnam, according to official figures.

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