Road patrol for management, operation, exploration, and maintenance of roadways in Vietnam from January 1, 2025

Road patrol for management, operation, exploration, and maintenance of roadways in Vietnam from January 1, 2025​ (Image from the Internet)

On November 15, 2024, the Minister of Transport of Vietnam issued Circular 41/2024/TT-BGTVT stipulating the management, operation, exploitation, maintenance, and protection of the road infrastructure.

Road patrol for management, operation, exploration, and maintenance of roadways in Vietnam from January 1, 2025​

The contractor responsible for the regular maintenance of the actively exploited road, or the assigned organization or individual tasked with this work, is responsible for organizing road patrolling to:

(1) Execute the management and protection of road infrastructure:

- Promptly detect and stop organizations or individuals engaging in violations related to the management and use of road infrastructure, unauthorized connections to roads, construction, and installation of advertisement signs, propaganda signs, construction of infrastructure works, and use of common technical infrastructure unlawfully;

- Cooperate with the personnel executing inspections as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 20 of Circular 41/2024/TT-BGTVT to draft records acknowledging violations concerning the management, use, and protection of road infrastructure;

- Compile reports on violations concerning the protection of road infrastructure, and the results of handling and remedying these infractions, including local government enforcement actions, and propose issues to the road managers for necessary actions.

(2) Inspect and address damages to road infrastructure:

- Promptly detect damages or signs of damage to road infrastructure and related equipment; inspect and monitor the operational status of each infrastructure component and related equipment;

- Swiftly remedy damages that threaten traffic safety and infrastructure stability per regular road maintenance standards and contractual agreements;

- Install temporary road signage, undertake cautionary measures, and execute other necessary actions for damaged or flooded road segments, or situations posing traffic safety risks, to ensure the safety of road users;

- Promptly notify about any damages or signs indicating exploitation-related safety concerns to road managers, users, and traffic participants. Notify traffic police when necessary to assist in traffic regulation.

(3) Ensure traffic safety:

- Immediately report any accident to the traffic police on the route, the local police department, and the nearest local authority; involve organizations or individuals responsible for rescue and salvage operations; notify road managers and users;

- Participate in addressing traffic congestion, and provide rescue and accident management when needed, or temporarily guide traffic in the absence of traffic police or road management agencies;

- Safeguard accident sites, assess damage to road infrastructure in cases of accidents causing damage to barriers, bridge railings, columns, signs, or bridges, and situations causing road infrastructure damage; require vehicle operators to remain on site; inform road managers and users; cooperate with local authorities and traffic police to draft records for damage assessment to demand compensation;

- Monthly, quarterly, and annually compile incidents of road traffic accidents using three criteria (number of accidents, fatalities, and injuries from road accidents), detailing specific locations and report to road managers;

- Identify recurring traffic organization issues, frequent accident spots, and potential accident-prone areas; propose remedial actions to road managers and users.

(4) Record road patrol logs as per the regulations in Section I of Appendix VIII attached to Circular 41/2024/TT-BGTVT; preserve and hand over patrol logs to road managers and users upon contract expiration or upon completing the assigned regular maintenance tasks of road infrastructure assets.

(5) The length and frequency of road patrols depend on the scale, technical level of the roads, traffic volume, road traffic order and safety status, road infrastructure quality, seasonal weather conditions, and must be specified in the contract for road maintenance contractors. The patrol length is stipulated in Part III, Section I of Appendix VIII issued together with Circular 41/2024/TT-BGTVT.

(6) Circumstances where road patrol is not required for safety concerns or urgency include:

- Segments or infrastructure elements experiencing severe incidents causing damage or road blockages, and other circumstances where road patrol personnel cannot safely perform their duties;

- Personnel engaged in traffic rescue operations, disaster search, and rescue activities, dealing with infrastructure failures, fires, and other force majeure situations.

More details can be found in Circular 41/2024/TT-BGTVT, effective from January 1, 2025.

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