Vietnam to fine drivers for unsafe distances on highways starting Aug. 27

Vietnamese authorities are intensifying enforcement of safe-distance regulations on major highways, with traffic police beginning to issue fines from August 27. The crackdown targets drivers who fail to maintain adequate space between their vehicles on routes including Pháp Vân - Cầu Giẽ, Cao Bồ, Mai Sơn, and QL45 - Nghi Sơn.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Police (Cục CSGT) has specified that under normal conditions with dry roads and speeds exceeding 60 km/h, the minimum safe distance is 55 meters. Failing to adhere to this will result in penalties. Drivers caught not maintaining the 55-meter gap without causing a collision will be fined 4-6 million VND and lose two driver's license points. If the violation leads to an accident, the fine escalates to 20-22 million VND, with ten points deducted from the license.

Authorities emphasize the critical nature of these rules, noting that at 100 km/h, a vehicle travels approximately 28 meters per second. A 100-meter distance provides only about 3.6 seconds for a driver to react to hazards, which is considered the minimum safe interval. Statistics reveal that over 30% of serious highway accidents stem from drivers not keeping a safe distance, often leading to devastating chain-reaction collisions.

From the beginning of 2026 until now, the Pháp Vân - Nghi Sơn highway has seen eight accidents caused by insufficient safe distances, resulting in one death, 18 injuries, and damage to 34 vehicles, with property losses exceeding 2 billion VND. The Cục CSGT stresses that strict adherence to safe-distance rules is essential for preventing accidents before they occur.

To bolster enforcement, traffic police will increasingly utilize smart surveillance camera systems and other technical equipment for both direct and remote monitoring of violations. Drivers are reminded that even during traffic congestion or when speeds are below 60 km/h, they must proactively maintain a safe distance appropriate to the real-time traffic density and conditions.