In Vietnam, not only are vehicles subject to penalties for violations against the legal regulations on road traffic, but pedestrians can now also face a maximum fine of 200,000 VND for prohibited acts as specified in Decree 100/2019/ND-CP.
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Hanoi-Vietnam: A maximum fine of 200,000 VND imposed on pedestrians against the legal regulations (Illustration)
Pedestrians are also participants in traffic and are subject to traffic law regulations. Therefore, if pedestrians commit the following violations, they will face penalties under Article 9 and Clause 1 of Article 47 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP regulating administrative penalties in the field of road and railway traffic:
| No. | Violation | Penalty (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not walking on the designated part of the road; crossing the divider; crossing the road at undesignated places or unsafely | 60,000 – 100,000 |
| 2 | Not obeying traffic light signals, traffic signs, or road markings | |
| 3 | Not following the orders or instructions of traffic controllers or traffic inspectors | |
| 4 | Carrying bulky objects obstructing traffic | |
| 5 | Clinging to moving vehicles | |
| 6 | Crossing railway barriers or bridges when barriers are moving or closed; crossing when the red light is on; not following the orders or instructions of traffic signs, road markings, or guidance of railway or bridge gatekeepers when crossing railway crossings, bridges, or tunnels | |
| 7 | Entering highways, except for highway management and maintenance workers. | 100,000 – 200,000 |
This is not the first time that road traffic law includes these regulations. Earlier, Decree 46/2016/ND-CP also mentioned prohibited behaviors of pedestrians. Decree 100/2019/ND-CP mainly changes the fine amounts: previously, there were three levels of fines, now reduced to two levels with a slight increase from 50,000 – 60,000 VND to 60,000 – 100,000 VND. For entering highways, except for highway management and maintenance workers, the fine is from 100,000 to 200,000 VND. (This fine was also stipulated in Decree 46/2016/ND-CP)
Currently, there are numerous cases where pedestrians cross the road recklessly, climb over railway barriers, or walk on highways... These violations partly stem from habitual behavior, limited awareness, or individual carelessness. Tragic incidents from these violations are increasingly occurring. For instance, the incident on September 21, 2020, on National Highway 14, heading towards Dong Xoai city, Binh Phuoc province: A young man was riding his motorcycle at the allowed speed when he reached the intersection with An Duong Vuong Street (Tan Binh neighborhood, Tan Binh ward). At that moment, an approximately 80-year-old lottery ticket seller named Chanh was walking from An Duong Vuong Street towards the highway. She did not walk in the designated pedestrian area but instead climbed over the road divider. Facing this sudden situation, the young motorcyclist couldn't react in time and directly collided with Mrs. Chanh.
It shows that any participant in traffic must strictly adhere to all traffic principles. Negligence always carries unpredictable risks. Therefore, Decree 100/2019/ND-CP reasonably continues to stipulate prohibited behaviors for pedestrians participating in traffic and raises the corresponding penalties for each behavior compared to the previous Decree 46/2016/ND-CP.
Phuong Thanh
