Vietnam government orders review of highway safety-distance rules

Vietnam’s government has ordered a review of the rules and fines governing safe distances between vehicles on expressways, following reports of violations and traffic accidents during the opening days of the September 2 National Day holiday.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc instructed the ministers of construction and public security to assess the current regulations, the penalties and practical conditions on the roads. They must report relevant issues to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s government in September.

The directive also calls on Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other local authorities to limit congestion, crashes and unsafe traffic conditions, particularly during holidays and festivals. Police have been monitoring images of vehicles that fail to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.

After five days of public communication and enforcement on several expressways, traffic police said most drivers had begun paying greater attention to keeping a safe distance. Authorities had handled 24 violations by August 31. Enforcement has focused particularly on commercial vehicles, including passenger buses, limousine vehicles and tractor-trailers, which officials identify as frequent participants in especially serious crashes. For private vehicles, police plan to emphasize education and guidance.

The government also wants work accelerated on major transport projects before the 2027 New Year holiday, including Hanoi’s Ring Roads 2.5, 3.5 and 4, Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3, and expressway links such as Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong.