Proposal to heavily fine drivers using phones while driving
According to regulations, drivers are prohibited from using mobile phones, however, the situation of drivers using mobile phones while driving is very common. Traffic experts suggest that along with the ban, this behavior must be severely punished.
The above issue was raised at the Conference on Announcing the results of research on the impact of using mobile phones while driving in Vietnam by the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) this morning (January 16).
Dr. Vu Anh Tuan - Vietnam - Germany Transport Center, Vietnam - Germany University - said that using a phone while driving increases traffic risks.
Accordingly, the risk of texting while driving is 20.3 times higher; when talking on the phone it is 8.5 times higher and when talking on the phone hands-free it is 5.3 times higher than when not using the phone.
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| Drivers using phones while driving increase traffic risks. Photo: Viet Hung |
The research team observed 210,000 drivers using mobile phones while driving at 9 locations in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong. The research results showed that in Vietnam, out of every 1,000 people, 6 people use mobile phones while driving, mainly people calling, holding the phone to their ear and texting, not many cases of using hands-free phones.
The most common forms of use are handheld phone calls and text messaging, with very few people using hands-free phones. E-bike riders have a particularly high rate of mobile phone use, about 32-38 times higher than the rate of violations among motorbike and bicycle riders.
Rural roads had the highest rate of violations (about 11 violations per 1,000 observed vehicles). Men were the main violators, accounting for about 75-80% of observed violators.
Of those who use mobile phones while driving, only about 6% stop their vehicles completely, 33% move to the curb and slow down, and about 61% maintain the same speed as other vehicles on the road.
According to the representative of the Department of Transport (Ministry of Transport), using a phone while driving a vehicle is a very common behavior. According to regulations, from January 1, 2017, motorbike drivers are prohibited from using mobile phones, car drivers are also prohibited from using phones according to international conventions. However, up to now, not many cases have been punished.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association - said that if using a phone while driving is a violation, then 100% of commercial drivers violate it.
According to Mr. Vu Anh Tuan, it is necessary to prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving, and at the same time increase the administrative fines to a sufficient level to deter drivers. In addition, the Vietnam-Germany University Research Group proposed 5 solutions and policies to limit the use of mobile phones while driving.
