To Ensure Safety When Participating in Traffic, These Regulations Must Be Known

1. Recognizing Traffic Controller Signals

According to Clause 2, Article 10 of the Road Traffic Law 2008, the signals of the traffic controller include:

- Hand raised vertically: Signaling traffic participants from all directions to stop;- Both arms or one arm extended horizontally: Signaling traffic participants in front of and behind the traffic controller must stop; traffic participants to the right and left of the traffic controller are allowed to go.- Right hand raised in front: Signaling traffic participants behind and to the right of the traffic controller to stop; traffic participants in front of the traffic controller are allowed to turn right; traffic participants to the left of the traffic controller are allowed to go in all directions; pedestrians must walk behind the traffic controller.

2. Regulations on Traffic Light Signals

According to Clause 3, Article 10 of the Road Traffic Law 2008, traffic light signals are regulated to have 3 colors: Green light, Red light, and Yellow light. Among which, green light means go; red light means stop.

The yellow light means to stop before the stopping line, except in cases where the vehicle has crossed the stopping line, then it is allowed to continue; in the case of flashing yellow signals, it is allowed to go but must reduce speed, pay attention, and yield to pedestrians crossing the street.

3. Recognizing Road Signs

According to Clause 4, Article 10 of the Road Traffic Law 2008, road signs include 5 groups:

- Prohibition signs to show prohibitions;- Warning signs to warn about potentially dangerous situations;- Mandatory signs to indicate the mandatory actions to be followed;- Instruction signs to guide directions or necessary information;- Additional signs to provide supplementary explanations for prohibition signs, warning signs, mandatory signs, and instruction signs.

4. Overtaking Must Be Signaled with Lights or Horn

According to Article 14 of the Road Traffic Law 2008, the overtaking vehicle must signal with lights or horn; in urban areas and densely populated areas between 10 PM and 5 AM, the signal must only be with lights.

The vehicle may overtake only when there are no obstacles in front, no oncoming vehicle in the overtaking section, the leading vehicle is not signaling to overtake another vehicle and has moved to the right.

When overtaking, vehicles must overtake on the left, except when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn or is turning left; when trams are operating in the center of the road; when special vehicles are working on the road and cannot be overtaken on the left, they must be overtaken on the right.

Note: Vehicles are not allowed to overtake in the following situations:

- When the conditions stipulated in Clause 2, Article 14 of the Road Traffic Law 2008 are not ensured;- On narrow bridges with only one lane;- On curved roads, at the crest of hills, and places with limited visibility;- At intersections, level crossings with railways;- In unfavorable weather conditions or roads not ensuring safety for overtaking;- When priority vehicles are sending out priority signals to perform their tasks.

5. 7 Places Not Allowed to Reverse Vehicle

According to Article 16 of the Road Traffic Law, vehicles are not allowed to reverse at the following places:

- At areas where stopping is prohibited;- On pedestrian crosswalks;- At intersections;- At level crossings with railways;- Where visibility is obscured;- In road tunnels;- On highways.

6. 11 Locations Not Allowed to Stop, Park Vehicles

Vehicle operators are not allowed to stop or park their vehicles at the following locations:

- On the left side of one-way roads;- On curved roads and near the crest of hills where visibility is obscured;- On bridges, under overpasses;- Parallel to another vehicle that is stopping or parking;- On pedestrian crosswalks;- At intersections and within 5 meters of the edge of intersections;- At bus stops;- In front of and within 5 meters on either side of the entrance to official agencies or organizations;- Where the road width only allows one lane;- Within the safety area of railways;- Where road signs are obscured.

This content is regulated in Clause 4, Article 19 of the Road Traffic Law 2008.

7. Stopping, Parking Vehicles Not More Than 0.25m From the Curb

This content is regulated in Article 19 of the Road Traffic Law 2008. Vehicle operators must comply with the regulations in Article 18 of the Road Traffic Law 2008 when stopping or parking on the street. They must stop or park close to the right-hand curb; the nearest wheel must not be more than 0.25m from the curb; in narrow streets, stop or park at least 20m from the parked vehicle on the opposite side.

Note: Do not stop or park on tram tracks, on sewer lids, telephone vaults, high voltage cable ducts, and fire hydrants.

8. Fire Engines Have the Right of Way

According to Article 22, among priority vehicles, fire engines performing their tasks are given priority over other vehicles; followed by military vehicles, police vehicles performing urgent duties; ambulances performing rescue missions; dyke protection vehicles, vehicles dealing with natural disaster emergencies; funeral processions.

Except for funeral processions, the mentioned vehicles performing their duties must have the prescribed horns, flags, and lights; are not restricted by speed limits; are allowed to go in the opposite direction, on other routes that can be used, even when there is a red light and must follow the instructions of traffic controllers.

When priority vehicle signals are present, traffic participants must quickly slow down, avoid or stop close to the right curb to yield.

9. Only Allowed to “Carry 3” on Motorcycles in 3 Cases

According to Article 30 of the Road Traffic Law 2008, operators of two-wheeled motorcycles, motor scooters are only allowed to carry one person, except in 3 cases where they are allowed to carry up to two people:

- Transporting a patient for emergency;- Escorting a person committing a legal violation;- Carrying a child under the age of 14.

Passengers on two-wheeled motorcycles, three-wheeled motorcycles, motor scooters are not allowed to: Carry bulky items; Use umbrellas; Hold on to, pull, or push other vehicles; Stand on the saddle, carrier, or sit on the handlebar;…

10. Only Allowed to Ride Motorcycles from 16 Years of Age

According to Article 60 of the Road Traffic Law 2008, the age for operators of motorcycles, automobiles is regulated as follows:

- Persons aged 16 or older are allowed to ride motorcycles with a cylinder capacity under 50 cm3;- Persons aged 18 or older are allowed to ride motorcycles with a cylinder capacity from 50 cm3 and up; drive automobiles with a load capacity under 3,500 kg; automobiles seating up to 9 people;- Persons aged 21 or older are allowed to drive automobiles with a load capacity from 3,500 kg and up; drive category B2 vehicles towing trailers (FB2);- Persons aged 24 or older are allowed to drive automobiles seating from 10 to 30 people; drive category C vehicles towing trailers, semi-trailers (FC);- Persons aged 27 or older are allowed to drive automobiles seating more than 30 people; drive category D vehicles towing trailers (FD).

Note: The maximum age for drivers of automobiles seating more than 30 people is 50 for females and 55 for males.

11. Speed Limits for Vehicles

According to Clause 1, Article 12 of the Road Traffic Law, drivers must comply with the speed regulations for vehicles on the road. Article 6, Article 7 of Circular 91/2015/TT-BGTVT provides detailed guidelines as follows:

- In densely populated areas: The maximum permitted speed for vehicles (excluding special-use motorcycles, motor scooters) is 60 km/h for dual carriageways, one-way roads with 2 or more motor vehicle lanes; 50 km/h for two-way roads without a median strip, one-way roads with one motor vehicle lane.

- Outside densely populated areas: The maximum permitted speed for vehicles is 90 km/h for cars, passenger cars seating up to 30 people (except buses), goods vehicles with a load capacity of up to 3.5 tons; 80 km/h for cars seating more than 30 people; 70 km/h for buses; truck tractors pulling semi-trailers; special-use cars; motorcycles, 60 km/h for cars pulling trailers; cars pulling other vehicles if it is a dual carriageway; if it is a two-way road without a median strip, one-way road with one motor vehicle lane, the corresponding speed is 80 km/h, 70 km/h, 60 km/h, and 50 km/h.

12. Safe Distance Between Vehicles

In addition to adhering to speed limits, the Road Traffic Law requires drivers to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. According to detailed guidance in Article 12 of Circular 91/2015/TT-BGTVT:

- When the road surface is dry, if the vehicle speed is over 60 km/h, the minimum distance is 35m; if 80 km/h, the distance is 55m; if 100 km/h, it is 70m; 120 km/h is 100m.

- In rainy conditions, fog, slippery roads, winding roads, mountain passes, drivers must adjust the appropriate safe distance greater than the minimum safe distance stated on road signs or regulations.

13. Prohibition of Pedestrians on Highways

This content is regulated in Article 26 of the Road Traffic Law 2008. Specifically, pedestrians, rudimentary vehicles, motor scooters, motorcycles, and tractors; special-use vehicles with a design speed less than 70 km/h are not allowed on the highway, except for people, vehicles, and equipment serving the management and maintenance of the highway.

For other vehicles, entering the highway must be signaled and yield to vehicles running on the highway, when it is safe, vehicles may merge into the lane adjacent to the outer edge, if there is an acceleration lane, the vehicle must run on it before merging into the highway lane, and when exiting the highway, gradually move to the right lane, if there is a deceleration lane, the vehicle must run on it before leaving the highway.

- Nguyen Trinh -

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