'Loophole' in Thanh Buoi driver's accident that killed 5 people

Editor's note

The recent consecutive major human casualties, although different in field, are similar in that the incidents reveal "dark corners" of wrongdoing and violations.

After heartbreaking incidents such as the Thanh Buoi bus accident, the landslide in Da Lat, and the mini apartment fire in Hanoi that killed 56 people, there was a process of investigation, review, and handling of the responsibilities of related organizations and individuals.

Finding the cause and plugging the loopholes from such incidents is essential, because only by promoting management responsibility, proactively preventing and handling violations early can risks be minimized.

Driver's license revoked for 3 months, still leisurely holding the steering wheel to carry passengers

Regarding the particularly serious traffic accident on Highway 20 that left 9 people injured and dead, Colonel Tran Anh Son, Deputy Director of Dong Nai Provincial Police, said that they are expanding the investigation to clearly determine the responsibility of the car owner Thanh Buoi and others involved.

*Thanh Buoi passenger bus caused an accident that left 9 people injured and dead. Photo: CA*

Previously, immediately after the accident, Dinh Quan District Police (Dong Nai) initiated a criminal case, prosecuted the accused, and temporarily detained driver Hoang Van Tinh (37 years old, from Thua Thien - Hue province) for 4 months to investigate the act of "Violating regulations on road traffic participation".

According to Colonel Tran Anh Son, this was an especially serious accident, killing 5 people, and more seriously, it was an act of "Violating regulations on road traffic participation".

Through checking the journey monitoring device, the Thanh Buoi passenger bus was traveling at 69km/h, exceeding the speed limit, not keeping a safe distance, encroaching on the adjacent lane, leading to a collision with the passenger bus traveling in the opposite direction.

It is worth mentioning that with a branded bus carrying 34 passengers, running inter-provincially, it was only when an accident occurred that the driver's "no license" violation was exposed.

At the police station, driver Hoang Van Tinh confessed that at the time of the accident, his driver's license had been revoked for 3 months by Lam Dong Provincial Police for speeding.

According to research, from the beginning of 2023 until now, Dong Nai Provincial Police have also fined Thanh Buoi passenger cars 8 times for speeding violations.

Not only that, this is the second accident involving Thanh Buoi passenger vans on Highway 20. Specifically, in July, there was also an accident where the driver of Thanh Buoi bus company overtook the left lane, crossed to the opposite lane and hit a motorbike, killing two people.

According to Colonel Tran Anh Son, Deputy Director of Dong Nai Provincial Police, before this particularly serious accident occurred, Dong Nai Police invited the owner of Thanh Buoi car to work and asked for a commitment and thoroughly instructed the drivers to strictly comply with the provisions of the law.

Therefore, after this accident, the investigation into the vehicle owner's responsibility will be expanded. "For Thanh Buoi bus company, we will resolutely handle it strictly, there are absolutely no forbidden zones and no interference," said Colonel Tran Anh Son.

Loophole of no license but still delivering car

The news that the Thanh Buoi bus driver, despite having his license revoked for 3 months, was still behind the wheel carrying passengers shocked the public, raising questions about the responsibility of the vehicle owner and the management agency.

This is not only because of the driver's illegal behavior but also a "gap" in management responsibility that caused 5 families to suffer the pain of losing loved ones.

Image of 16-seat passenger van after collision with Thanh Buoi company vehicle

Looking at the incident from the driver management perspective, if the accident had not happened, when would the violation of driver Hoang Van Tinh driving without a license have been discovered and stopped? Why did the driver without a license still operate the profession without the bus company, bus station, or traffic police detecting it?

Mr. Le Duc Thanh, Director of Thanh Buoi Company Limited, explained that the company did not know that driver Tinh's driver's license had been revoked. Normally, drivers who violate traffic laws pay the fine themselves.

"We manage in accordance with the law," Mr. Le Duc Thanh affirmed.

Unqualified drivers still hold the steering wheel, where is the law?, when talking to VietNamNet reporter, Vietnam Road Administration (Ministry of Transport) affirmed that the responsibility in managing drivers belongs first and foremost to the transport enterprise.

Vietnam Road Administration said that the management of passenger vehicle operations has been decentralized to localities.

Accordingly, the Department of Transport of localities performs the function of advising and assisting the Provincial People's Committee in State management of traffic, including the fields of roads, transportation, traffic safety, etc.

“According to regulations, when a driver’s license is revoked, the driver is not allowed to operate. If a business knows that a driver’s license has been revoked, it will not be assigned work. In addition, according to regulations at bus stations, when a vehicle leaves the station, the driver’s condition must be checked,” said an official from the Vietnam Road Administration.

It is known that every year, the Department of Transport of provinces and cities requires bus stations to sign a commitment to strictly inspect the conditions of vehicles, drivers, and service staff on the vehicles before completing procedures for vehicles to leave the station according to regulations.

The Department of Transport has directed bus stations to resolutely not allow drivers using alcohol or banned substances; vehicles that do not meet the conditions, do not ensure technical safety and environmental protection, and have non-functioning journey monitoring devices and cameras.

Therefore, the case of driver Thanh Buoi causing an accident that killed 5 people exposed "loopholes" in the management, inspection, and supervision of vehicles before departure.

Regarding the pre-departure inspection procedure, the director of a bus station in Hanoi said that Decree 10/2020/ND-CP regulating transportation business and conditions for automobile transportation business and Circular 12/2020/TT-BGTVT regulating the organization and management of automobile transportation activities and road transport support services have very specific regulations.

According to regulations, bus station management and operation units must check 18 items before the vehicle leaves the station, including the driver's license.

“The driver’s license is the most important item and must be checked before each trip leaves the station. Other items such as ticket price list and emergency hammer can be checked periodically,” he said.

In addition, before handing over the vehicle to the driver, the vehicle owner must check the driver's driving license, alcohol and drug levels, and health criteria. Therefore, the vehicle owner or manager must be aware of the driver's license revocation.

Checking the transport business activities of Thanh Buoi bus company

Regarding the traffic accident that killed 5 people in Dong Nai, the Vietnam Road Administration has sent a document requesting the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport to inspect all automobile transportation business activities of Thanh Buoi Company Limited.

The Department requested to inspect the compliance with regulations on business and conditions for transport business of Thanh Buoi Company Limited. In particular, focusing on inspecting the process of ensuring traffic safety in the unit's automobile transport business activities and handling violations according to regulations.

Next: Illegal construction in Da Lat exposed after landslide

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