Decree 168/2024/ND-CP of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations of road traffic order and safety has just come into effect from January 1, 2025. Many traffic violations are subject to sharp increases in penalties, from 30 to nearly 50 times higher than Decree 100. Many opinions say that any new regulation, when put into practice, will likely affect and impact a segment of the population and businesses. However, in the context that Vietnam is aiming to reduce the number of deaths and damages caused by traffic accidents, all traffic activities need to be people-centered in implementing activities to change traffic behavior.
Dr. Nguyen Huu Duc, a traffic expert, said: "In fact, after Decree 168 took effect, there have been positive changes in traffic law enforcement in some localities. However, traffic congestion occurs frequently in some areas, especially during rush hour. This is an excuse for some people to accuse the Decree of causing traffic congestion. Instead of making such accusations, it should be seen that the implementation of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP has revealed some shortcomings in traffic organization in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City."
Specifically, according to Dr. Nguyen Huu Duc, the current transport infrastructure has not met the actual development needs. The road system in the two largest cities of the country, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, is overloaded, especially during rush hour. The public transport system has not developed synchronously. Buses and subways have not met the travel needs of the people, forcing many people to choose personal vehicles, putting pressure on the road system. The lack of dedicated routes for bicycles and pedestrians puts pedestrians and cyclists at risk.
Traffic participants' awareness is still limited, leading to widespread traffic law violations: "Comparing before and after the increase in penalties according to Decree 168, it is clear that in the past, there were many people who violated traffic laws, and had not formed the habit of driving in the correct lane and giving way to others. Many people still have the habit of driving in the wrong lane, running red lights, stopping and parking in violation of regulations, causing difficulties in traffic regulation. Next, traffic management and regulation work still has many shortcomings. The number of traffic police has not met the needs of ensuring traffic order and safety in crowded areas. Traffic law propaganda programs have not really attracted and reached the majority of people. Currently, the lack of surveillance cameras has created conditions for many people to violate traffic laws. The implementation of Decree 168 is a necessary step to raise awareness and ensure traffic order and safety. However, to achieve high efficiency, close coordination between agencies is needed. "functions, businesses and people", Dr. Nguyen Huu Duc emphasized.
Traffic police have difficulty accessing accident scenes because there are no emergency lanes or service roads.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Manh Thang (Captain of Highway Traffic Control Patrol Team No. 3 - Road and Railway Traffic Patrol and Control Guidance Department, Traffic Police Department) said: "Traffic congestion on highways is mostly caused by traffic accidents. On highways that meet all standards, authorities can quickly access the scene and take temporary remedial measures or easily divert traffic from a distance, so congestion, if any, is quickly resolved. However, currently, many highways are built with the name of divergence, with only 2 lanes, no emergency lanes or service roads, causing countless difficulties, even making it impossible for authorities to access the scene of an accident for a long time."
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Manh Thang gave an example of the Cao Bo – Mai Son and Mai Son – National Highway 45 expressways, which are two new expressways that will be completed and put into use in 2023 and 2024. These are two of the 11 North-South expressway projects in the East, Phase 1, which are being exploited at a limited speed because they only have 4 lanes. Through the process of exploiting the route, it is undeniable that the great benefits that the route brings, but also begin to arise potential risks for people and vehicles participating in traffic on the route.
"Recently, during peak traffic times, holidays, and weekends, this route is at risk of traffic congestion due to accidents and collisions. Currently, there are only two lanes on each side without an emergency lane. Due to the investment phase, the route has only been equipped with short emergency stops, 3-5 km apart. When vehicles have problems, most of them have to stop in the traffic lane. If drivers do not promptly set up warnings from a distance, or do not have warning devices (triangle lights, reflective cones, etc.) equipped on their vehicles, accidents are very likely to happen, especially at night. In fact, many accidents have occurred for this reason," said Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Manh Thang.
In addition, due to the narrow road width and high traffic density, any collision or vehicle incident, whether large or small, only needs one vehicle to turn across the road to cause a traffic jam. When there is a traffic jam, it is also very difficult for the authorities to approach because there are no access roads on both sides and no emergency lanes: "Most of the time, we have to approach the scene by motorbike. Then, we have to organize traffic flow, create lanes for rescue vehicles to enter the scene, then examine the scene... which takes a lot of time. It usually takes 3-4 hours to handle a normal accident, and some cases take half a day. However, approaching by motorbike on the highway is extremely dangerous, so we have requested many times that the traffic infrastructure on the highway be repaired soon to ensure safety on the route. Currently, Ninh Binh province has promptly accepted the opinions and is preparing to start construction to expand the Cao Bo - Mai Son route".
According to the Captain of the Highway Traffic Control Patrol Team No. 3, the Cao Bo – Mai Son and Mai Son – National Highway 45 expressways currently do not have standard rest stops, leading to traffic accidents due to sleepy drivers, drivers not paying attention, etc. The lighting system has been installed in many places but is not turned on, the overpasses do not have falling object protection nets, and the speed limits are not consistent (Cao Bo – Mai Son route has a maximum speed of 80km/h; Mai Son – National Highway 45 route has a maximum speed of 90km/h; the temporary rest stop section has a maximum speed of 60km/h)… are also potential causes of traffic accidents.
Regarding solutions to prevent accidents, in addition to dividing shifts and teams to increase mobile patrols to handle violations 24/7, Traffic Control Patrol Team No. 3 has coordinated with road management areas, local traffic safety boards and exploitation management units to review, propose solutions and recommendations to relevant agencies.
At the same time, regularly organize propaganda sessions, sign commitments with passenger and cargo transport businesses that regularly travel on the route; organize the pasting and giving of reflective stickers, and instruct on how to place warning signs when accidents occur. In particular, in the coming time, the fleet will strictly handle traffic violations; strictly handle intentional violations that cause serious consequences as a warning lesson for others.
Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/nghi-dinh-168-lam-lo-ra-bat-cap-ve-giao-thong-tai-nhieu-tinh-thanh-403217.html
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