Don't complain about why it's clogged...!

A Nghe An man far from home commented like that when he returned to visit his family and walked the main streets of Vinh city on this occasion.

He analyzed: Almost all cities in Vietnam have the same limitations in urban planning and traffic infrastructure. They are unscientific, short-term vision, and unsynchronized... In addition, the urban population density is increasing, while cars, which take up a lot of space when operating or parking, are gradually replacing motorbikes and bicycles, leading to traffic congestion and unsafe traffic.

However, in Vinh city alone, there is another very critical reason. Just observe, the traffic awareness of a part of the people using cars and motorbikes is still poor. Traveling on many streets, especially at intersections during rush hours, is very chaotic and disorderly.

As people who use cars and motorbikes, they are equipped with legal knowledge. But it feels like they lack understanding, or disregard the regulations of road traffic laws...

The situation of parking cars illegally still occurs on many streets despite the Vinh City Police taking strong action to deal with it. Photo: Nhat Lan

Photo: Nhat Lan

In fact, in recent years, in Vinh city, there are many roads that always have traffic jams during rush hours (6:30 - 7:30; 11:00 - 12:00; 16:30 - 18:00).

There are intersections where traffic lights are ineffective during rush hour; even though traffic police are always there to give instructions and signals, traffic jams still occur.

Therefore, in recent years, many causes of traffic congestion have been dissected and analyzed to find solutions. That is the planning and construction of many high-rise apartments in the central area. This has led to a sudden increase in population density and types of vehicles in the central area. That is the traffic infrastructure is still weak, not synchronized, and there are no car parking lots. This leads to cars having to park on both sides of the road, leading to the narrowing of the roadway...

All of these reasons are correct. However, the awareness of traffic participants is rarely mentioned. Or if mentioned, it is still sketchy, this responsibility is almost "reserved" to the traffic police force, traffic inspectors and urban order of communes and wards.

Right at the right-turning location, a woman parked her car, opened the trunk and prepared her belongings (photo taken on January 21, 2019). Photo: Nhat Lan

Observing some main roads that often experience traffic jams such as Le Hong Phong, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Le Loi, Quang Trung, Tran Phu... in the past few days, the opinion of a friend from Nghe An far away from home is very accurate.

In Vinh city, many people driving cars and motorbikes are willing to overtake on the left; do not use turn signals when changing lanes; make random U-turns in areas with a lot of vehicles in operation; and park cars on both sides of the road corridor in a very messy and arbitrary manner. There are even people who "innocently" park right at the intersection, in the part of the road reserved for vehicles turning right to do their own business, as if this were their own yard.

The intersections of Le Hong Phong - Nguyen Van Cu, Le Hong Phong - Le Nin Avenue... are often congested during rush hour due to poor traffic awareness. Photo: Nhat Lan

Many people using motorbikes are not aware that stopping on the right-turn lane is against the rules, contributing to traffic congestion. Photo: Nhat Lan