Is it illegal to go straight in the right turn lane?

Driving in the wrong lane is one of the common violations of motor vehicles when participating in traffic and is subject to penalties according to the provisions of the Road Traffic Law.

According to Decree 100/2019/ND-CP issued on December 30, 2019, the regulations on penalties for vehicles driving in the wrong lane are as follows:

For drivers of cars and similar vehicles, driving in the wrong lane will be fined from 3,000,000 - 5,000,000 VND and have their driver's license revoked for 1 - 3 months.

In case a driver drives in the wrong lane and causes a traffic accident, he/she will be fined from 10,000,000 - 12,000,000 VND and have his/her driver's license revoked for 2 - 4 months.

For drivers of motorbikes (including electric motorbikes such as smart electric motorbikes), motorcycles, motorbike-like vehicles and motorbike-like vehicles, driving in the wrong lane will be fined 400,000 - 600,000 VND.

Motorcyclists who drive in the wrong lane and cause traffic accidents will be fined 4,000,000 - 5,000,000 VND and have their driver's license revoked for 2 - 4 months.

For drivers of trailers and specialized motorbikes, driving in the wrong lane will be fined 400,000 - 600,000 VND and have their driver's license revoked for 1 - 3 months.

In case the driver of a trailer or specialized motorbike drives in the wrong lane and causes a traffic accident, he/she will be fined 6,000,000 - 8,000,000 VND and have his/her driver's license revoked for 2 - 4 months.

For drivers or passengers of bicycles, motorbikes, and other rudimentary vehicles, fines will be imposed from 80,000 to 100,000 VND.

Distinguishing between wrong lane driving and wrong lane markings

Road markings are a form of road marking that assist, guide and regulate traffic. They are used alone or in combination with traffic lights and other signs.

If there are multiple traffic signals present, the order of priority is traffic controller's command, traffic lights, signs and road markings.

Road users who do not comply with the instructions of road signs and markings are said to commit a road marking violation. These violations often occur at intersections with signs that say “Direction of travel on each lane must follow” (R.411).

The R.411 sign instructs drivers of the number of lanes and the direction of travel in each lane according to the road markings. For example, at an intersection, vehicles that do not enter the correct lane as directed by the road markings and signs, such as vehicles going straight in the right turn lane, are said to be in violation of the road signs and road markings.

However, the R.411 sign is only effective when combined with the 1.18 road marking. Therefore, on road sections with the R.411 sign and the 1.18 road marking, if the driver turns right or left into the lane with the straight arrow, he will be guilty.