From January 01, 2025, new regulations on applying points to driver's licenses will be in effect in Vietnam

From January 01, 2025, new regulations on applying points to driver's licenses will be in effect in Vietnam (Image from the Internet)

On June 27, 2024, the National Assembly passed the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024.

From January 01, 2025, new regulations on applying points to driver's licenses will be in effect in Vietnam

Article 58 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024 stipulates the points of the driver's license in Vietnam as follows:

- The points of the driver's license are used to manage compliance with the laws on road traffic order and safety by the driver in the database system on road traffic order and safety, which includes 12 points. The number of points deducted for each violation depends on the nature and extent of the violation of the road traffic order and safety laws. Data on points deducted from the license of a violator will be updated in the database system immediately after the decision to impose penalties takes effect and will be notified to the person whose license points are deducted.

- A driver's license that has not had all its points deducted and has not had any points deducted within 12 months from the date of the last deduction will be restored to full 12 points.

- In the case where the driver's license has all points deducted, the holder of the license is not allowed to operate vehicles on the road according to that license. After at least 6 months from the date all points are deducted, the license holder can participate in a knowledge test on the laws on road traffic order and safety as stipulated in Clause 7 of Article 61 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024, conducted by the Traffic Police force. If the test results meet the requirements, the license will be restored to full 12 points.

- A driver's license that has been renewed, reissued, or upgraded will retain the same number of points as before the renewal, reissue, or upgrade.

- Individuals with authority to sanction administrative violations have the authority to deduct driver's license points.

- The Government of Vietnam shall stipulate the details of Clause 1, Article 58 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024; stipulate the procedures, authority to deduct and restore driver's license points; and stipulate the roadmap to implement Article 58 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024. The Minister of Public Security shall stipulate the details of Clause 3, Article 58 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024.

Age and health requirements for operators of vehicles joining in road traffic in Vietnam from January 01, 2025

According to Article 59 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024, the regulations on the age and health conditions for operators of vehicles joining in road traffic are as follows:

- The age requirements for drivers and operators of special-purpose vehicles are stipulated as follows:

+ Individuals aged 16 and above are allowed to ride motorbikes.

+ Individuals aged 18 and above are eligible for licenses for categories A1, A, B1, B, C1 and are eligible for a certificate of legal knowledge on road traffic to operate special-purpose vehicles in road traffic.

+ Individuals aged 21 and above are eligible for licenses for categories C, BE.

+ Individuals aged 24 and above are eligible for licenses for categories D1, D2, C1E, CE.

+ Individuals aged 27 and above are eligible for licenses for categories D, D1E, D2E, DE.

+ The maximum age for operators of passenger cars (including buses) with more than 29 seats (excluding the driver's seat) and sleeper buses is 57 for men and 55 for women.

- Operators of vehicles participating in road traffic must meet the health conditions suitable for each type of vehicle they are allowed to operate. The Minister of Health shall stipulate the health standards, health examination for drivers and operators of special-purpose vehicles; periodic health examinations for professional drivers of cars; and establish a database on the health status of drivers and operators of special-purpose vehicles.

- The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security shall stipulate the age requirements for military and police drivers performing defense and security duties.

For more details, refer to the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024, effective from January 01, 2025, except for the cases stipulated in Clause 2, Article 88 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024.

The Law on Road Traffic 2008, amended and supplemented by some articles of the Law on Amendments and Supplements to Certain Laws Related to Planning 2018 and the Law on Prevention and Control of Alcohol-related Harm 2019, will cease to be effective in Vietnam from the date the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024 takes effect, except for the cases stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, 5, and 6, Article 89 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024.

To Quoc Trinh

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