Are motorbikes required to install a mirror on the right or left when joining in traffic in Vietnam? Are persons fined when installing one side rearview mirror?
What are the conditions for motor vehicles to join in road traffic?
Pursuant to Clause 2 Article 53 of the Law on Road Traffic 2008 of Vietnam on conditions for motor vehicles to join in road traffic:
“Article 53. Conditions for motor vehicles to join in road traffic
1. Automobiles of proper types allowed to join in road traffic must satisfy the following quality, technical safety and environmental protection criteria:
a/ Being equipped with an effective brake system;
b/ Being fitted with an effective steering system;
c/ The steering wheel is on the left side of the automobile; for a foreigner’s overseas-registered automobile with a right-handed steering wheel, to join in road traffic in Vietnam, it must comply with the Government’s regulations;
d/ Being fully equipped with driving and passing lamps, registration plate lamp, stop lamp and signal lamps;
e/ Having the wheels fitted with pneumatic tires of the right size and right technical standards for each type of automobile;
f/ Having sufficient rear-view mirrors and other equipment and devices to ensure the operator’s visibility;
g/ Having the windscreen and windows made of safety glass;
h/ Having a horn of standard volume;
i/ Being fully equipped with an exhaust silencer, an exhaust pipe and other equipment and devices to ensure exhaust gas and noise up to environmental standards;
j/ Their structures are durable enough and ensure stable operation.
2. Motorcycles, three-wheeled motor vehicles and mopeds of right types allowed to join in road traffic must satisfy the quality, technical safely and environmental protection standards prescribed at Points a, b, d , e, f, h, i and j, Clause 1 of this Article.
3. Motor vehicles must have registration papers and number plates, granted by competent state bodies.
4. The Government shall stipulate the use life limits of motor vehicles.
5. The Minister of Transport shall prescribe quality, technical safety and environmental protection standards of motor vehicles permitted to join in road traffic, except for army and police motor vehicles used for defense and security purposes.”
Thus, when participating in traffic, two-wheeled motorbikes need to be of the proper type allowed to participate in traffic. Besides, it must ensure the regulations on quality, technical safety and environmental protection criteria and must be equipped with an effective brake system; be fitted with an effective steering system; be fully equipped with driving and passing lamps, registration plate lamp, stop lamp and signal lamps; have the wheels fitted with pneumatic tires of the right size and right technical standards for each type of automobile; have sufficient rear-view mirrors and other equipment and devices to ensure the operator’s visibility; have the windscreen and windows made of safety glass; have a horn of standard volume; be fully equipped with an exhaust silencer, an exhaust pipe and other equipment and devices to ensure exhaust gas and noise up to environmental standards.
Are motorbikes required to install a mirror on the right or left when joining in traffic? Are persons fined when installing one side rearview mirror?
Which side are rearview mirrors required to have on motorcycles?
Pursuant to Regulation QCVN 14:2015/BGTVT of Vietnam, the rearview mirror regulation stipulates that 2-wheel motorcycles must install rearview mirrors on the left and right side of the driver. In addition, the rearview mirror used on the vehicle is a mirror that must meet the requirements specified in the Regulation. Along with that, the rearview mirror must be firmly installed so that the driver can easily adjust at the driving position and can clearly perceive the image behind with a minimum distance of 50 m to the right and left. In the case of round mirrors, the diameter of the reflecting surface shall be not less than 94 mm and not more than 150 mm and in case of non-circular mirrors, the size of the reflecting surface shall be large enough to accommodate an inscribed circle having a diameter of 78 mm, but must fit within a rectangle measuring 120 mm x 200 mm.
In addition, according to the provisions of Point a Clause 1 Article 17, penalties are only applied to driving a vehicle without a rear-view mirror on the driver's left side or without a functional one. Thus, according to the standards, two-wheeled motorbikes when participating in traffic must have both left and right mirrors. But in fact, when participating in traffic, the driver only needs to have the rearview mirror on the left of the driver.
What is the fine for the person operating the vehicle without a mirror on the left?
Pursuant to Point a Clause 1 Article 17 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP of Vietnam:
“Article 17. Penalties imposed upon by operators of mopeds and motorcycles (including electric motorcycles) and the like violating regulations on roadworthiness of vehicles running on public roads
1. A fine ranging from VND 100,000 to VND 200,000 shall be imposed for:
a) Operating the vehicle without a horn, plate lamp, brake lamp, or a mirror on the left, or without a functional one;
…”
Thus, for persons operating the vehicle without a mirror on the left, or without a functional one when participating in traffic, they may be fined up to VND 200,000. The above basis will apply to drivers of motorcycles, mopeds (including electric scooters), motorcycle-like vehicles and moped-like vehicles without rear-view mirror or without a functional one on the driver's left side. Therefore, person operating the motorbike without a rearview mirror on the right will not be penalized, but without a rearview mirror on the left or with a left rearview mirror but the mirror does not work, there will be a fine as above.
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