Proposal to issue driving license certificates to people aged 16-18

Many high school students ride motorbikes under 50cc or electric motorbikes.

At the Motorcycle Traffic Safety Workshop on November 4th, Dr. Tran Huu Minh, Chief of the Office of the National Traffic Safety Committee, stated that by September, the country had 77 million registered motorcycles, bringing the motorcycle ownership rate per 1,000 people to 770 vehicles, among the highest in the world .

Despite various local plans to restrict their use, motorcycles remain the primary mode of transportation for the majority of Vietnamese people, accounting for 85-90% of road traffic and contributing to 60-70% of traffic accidents. Among these, the phenomenon of minors under 16 years old driving two-wheeled vehicles and being involved in traffic accidents is becoming increasingly complex.

In particular, Mr. Minh argued that teenagers aged 16-18 are legally allowed to drive motorcycles with a capacity under 50cc, even though this group still lacks the knowledge and skills to operate such vehicles.

The Law on Traffic Order and Safety requires this group of children to understand road traffic rules, possess vehicle driving skills, and meet age and health requirements. However, what constitutes understanding road traffic rules and possessing vehicle driving skills remains unclear.

According to Mr. Minh, teenagers participating in traffic need skills that are not too complicated, such as speed, observation when changing direction, and avoiding blind spots of buses and trucks. This content can be taught in schools over 1-2 days, or parents can teach their children the theory and practice of driving skills.

To ensure students understand traffic rules and develop driving skills, Mr. Minh proposed that those aged 16 to 18 be tested on theory and issued driver's licenses.

Schools can collaborate with traffic police and training institutions to organize exams. Authorities can issue basic guidance documents for families to refer to, and to guide students and schools in organizing the exams.

"The content of the exam and the issuance of certificates should aim to improve understanding of traffic safety, and should not create difficulties for students and their families," Mr. Minh said.

Mr. Khuat Viet Hung, Director of the Institute of Transport Strategy and Development, also stated that in Vietnam, motorcycles and scooters account for approximately 93% of vehicles. This remains a popular mode of transportation, both in urban and rural areas, even among those who own cars but still possess motorcycles.

Motorcyclists need training in skills and knowledge to develop a sense of traffic safety. The Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety (effective from January 1, 2025) has many new points, however, it does not yet regulate driver's licenses for those operating motorcycles under 50cc.

According to the National Traffic Safety Committee, in 2023, approximately 2,300 children under 18 years old died or were injured in traffic accidents, with about 1,000 of them dying. 80% of this group were aged 15-18.

The regulation requiring drivers of electric motorcycles and motorbikes under 50cc to pass a driving test to obtain a driver's license was included in the draft of the revised Road Traffic Law.

The National Assembly subsequently decided to separate the Road Traffic Law into the Road Law and the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety. Neither of the two enacted laws contains provisions for issuing licenses or conducting driving tests for motorcycles under 50cc.

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