2020: Bus stations in Vietnam shall develop and sufficiently implement the traffic safety procedures following 04 steps

According to Circular No. 12/2020/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, bus stations and goods stations shall develop and sufficiently implement the traffic safety procedures following the steps below:

First, tasks to be performed as a vehicle enters a station

The station staff and driver shall perform the following tasks:

- conduct an inspection and confirm that the vehicle has been licensed by a competent authority for operation at the station and that the vehicle has entered the station (applicable to a bus station);

- instruct the driver to drive the vehicle to the designated location for passenger and goods drop-off; update information to the station management software as prescribed;

- instruct the driver to drive the vehicle to the designated stop location in accordance with regulations of the station.

Second, tasks to be performed before a vehicle enters a passenger pick-up (goods loading) location

Before allowing a vehicle to enter a passenger pick-up/goods loading location, the station staff shall conduct an inspection and keep a logbook of vehicle entry and exit or update information to the station management station. The inspection includes the following contents:

- Regarding auto inspection: vehicle registration certificate; certificate of technical and environmental safety; effective civil liability insurance; effective badge attached to the vehicle’s glass in accordance with regulations; vehicle location data on the system for processing and exploitation of data from the tracking device of the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam, cameras (for the vehicle required to be fitted with a camera); fire extinguisher; emergency tools (if any);

- Regarding driver inspection: number of drivers and their driver’s licenses; name tags and uniforms (if any); transport order or transport certificate;

- Inspecting transport quality already registered with the route management authority, ticket fares posted (applicable to the bus station); information posted on the vehicle;

- Comparing information about license plate and driver with that specified in the transport order, transport contract or transport certificate; conduct a test for drugs and alcohol (if testing devices are available). Regarding the goods station, inspecting information about the license for import of dangerous goods in accordance with regulations if the vehicle transports dangerous goods;

If the station staff finds that the competent authority seizes vehicle documents or driver’s documents for violation handling purpose while the vehicle is on the outward trip, the driver is allowed to operate the vehicle until the return trip is ended according to the transport order.

Third, tasks to be performed as the vehicle enters the passenger pick-up (goods loading) location

- After the station staff completes the tasks specified in Clause 2 of this Article:

+ If the result of inspection of any abovementioned contents is not satisfactory, according to the severity of the violation, request the transport business or driver to immediately take remedial actions or deploy another vehicle or driver;

+ If the results of inspection of all above-mentioned contents are satisfactory, the station staff shall instruct the driver to driver the vehicle to the passenger pick-up or goods loading location within the prescribed time limit, and perform the next tasks specified in Points b and c of this Clause;

- Regarding a bus station: Sell tickets to passengers if the transport business authorizes the bus station to do so; supervise the loading of passenger and luggage onto the passenger bus within the station area to promptly discover and prevent the transport of banned goods, flammable and explosive goods and live animals by passenger bus; ensure that consignments are loaded onto the passenger bus in accordance with regulations and are not placed in the passenger compartment; ensure that the permissible seating capacity is not exceeded; ensure that every passenger has a ticket and is arranged a seat with the right number written in his/her ticket;

- Regarding a goods station: supervise the loading of goods and luggage onto the vehicle within the station area to promptly discover and prevent the transport of banned goods; ensure that goods are loaded in accordance with regulations. The goods station is encouraged to use technical equipment to discover banned goods within the station area; load goods on within the payload limit specified in the certificate of technical and environmental safety inspection; request the person loading goods to sign the transport certificate after loading goods;   

- Supervise operation of automobiles and drivers within the station area.

Fourth, perform tasks to allow a vehicle to exit the station.

Before allowing the exit, the station staff and driver shall perform the following tasks:

- Regarding a bus station: Determine the total number of tickets sold (except for the case the transport business sells tickets itself), the driver shall pay for services (except for the payment made under the service provision contract between the transport business and the station operator). He/she and station staff shall sign and transfer documents in accordance with regulations. Check information specified in the transport order and provide signature;

- Regarding a goods station: Determine the weight of goods and types of goods already loaded on the vehicle, the driver shall pay for services (except for the payment made under the service provision contract between the transport business and the station operator). He/she and station staff shall sign and transfer documents in accordance with regulations. Check information specified in the transport certificate and provide signature;

- The station staff shall record and confirm the driver’s completion of all procedures required for exit from a station. Update information to the station management software upon the vehicle’s exit in accordance with regulations; make a list of cases of refusal to allow exit of the vehicle from the station, and update traffic safety at the station.

Note: The roadmap for application of the traffic safety procedure to stations

- Regarding stations of class 1 – 4: from the effective date of this Circular;

- Regarding the remaining bus stations and goods stations: from January 01, 2021.

View more details at Circular No. 12/2020/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, effective from July 15, 2020.

Thu Ba

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE