Driving changes to watch out for

Since Decree 46/2016/ND-CP came into effect, notably increasing the penalty for "running a yellow light" to the same level as for running a red light, it has caused much controversy.

The Road Traffic Law and QCVN 41:2012/BGTVT (traffic light signal section) stipulate that "A yellow signal means you must stop before the stop line, except in cases where you have already passed the stop line and you are allowed to continue", but QCVN 41:2016/BGTVT has added: "...In cases where the vehicle has approached or exceeded the "Stop line" painted line, if stopping would be dangerous, you must quickly continue to leave the intersection". Thus, instead of having difficulty determining whether you have passed the stop line when the yellow light is on or not, from November 1, 2016, vehicles approaching the stop line and seeing danger are allowed to continue. Knowing this content, vehicle owners will be very proactive in handling situations, so as to be as safe as possible...

Signs 124c,d,e,f prohibit turning and U-turning, one of the additions to QCVN 41:2016/BGTVT.

The controversy over what a pickup truck is, which lane it should be in, whether it is prohibited during certain hours, etc. has been going on for a long time. Many people believe that pickup trucks should be treated similarly to trucks because they have the same license plate number C or D. However, many people also believe that based on the number of seats and the vehicle's load, pickup trucks should only be treated like passenger cars. However, with this new standard, pickup trucks are considered passenger cars in cases where regulations on the validity of signs, directions, lane separation, etc. are in place. Pickup trucks are not considered passenger cars in terms of age limit or license plate registration.

Article 30.9 “If the road section where the prohibition sign is in effect is very long, at intersections the prohibition sign must be repeated immediately after the intersection as in the direction of the road with the command sign. If there is no reminder sign, the sign is automatically considered to be no longer in effect” is praised by many drivers as “wonderful”. For example, on roads with signs, commands, prohibitions such as lane separation, speed, densely populated areas, if passing an intersection without a reminder sign, the sign is automatically no longer in effect. Drivers can drive at speed outside densely populated areas without being fined.

A fairly new point in QCVN 41:2016/BGTVT that many drivers should update is the change in regulations of sign 123a. Previously, many traffic participants and authorities still argued about the situation of "no left turn means no U-turn". Now this situation will end, because QCVN 41:2016/BGTVT has added signs 124c,d,e,f to regulate positions where both left turn and U-turn are prohibited...

A correct understanding of the definition of “right overtaking” in QCVN 41:2016/BGTVT will probably help drivers put an end to the debate on traffic forums in recent times: “Right overtaking is a traffic situation in which a vehicle overtakes another vehicle on the right side of the overtaken vehicle on the same direction of the road on roads with only one lane of motor vehicles in each direction. Vehicles are not allowed to overtake each other on the right except in some cases specified in the Road Traffic Law”.

And, the act of “overtaking on the right” is considered “overtaking” according to Article 3.61 “Vehicles on lanes running faster than each other is a traffic situation where vehicles on lanes in the same direction of roads with more than two lanes in each direction can run faster than each other as long as they comply with the regulations on speed and type of vehicles using the lane. When changing lanes, they must comply with road traffic rules”. Thus, to overtake other slow-moving vehicles, drivers can change lanes at the right place, with full signals and at the right speed to pass, then return to the lane if they want.

Although there are many new points, closer to reality and more convenient for traffic participants, the majority of traffic participants believe that, in order to contribute to popularizing road traffic regulations to the majority of people, the Ministry of Transport should improve in the direction of introducing new standards, always creating a statistical table, comparing which regulations have been amended, which regulations have been newly introduced... compared to the old standards. Thus, traffic participants will be more proactive in accessing new points in road traffic regulations, while limiting disputes between traffic participants and enforcement forces in case of violations.

According to VNE