Driving habits that get drivers heavily fined

Using the phone while driving

Using a phone while riding a motorbike is very common nowadays. Not only do people hold their phones while driving and making calls, many people also “glue their eyes” to their phones to text, surf social media or even livestream while driving a motorbike.

Using a phone while driving will distract the driver and make them unable to handle unexpected situations, which can lead to traffic accidents.

Decree 100/2019/ND-CP on Administrative Penalties in the Field of Road and Railway Traffic (Decree 100) stipulates a fine of VND 600,000 - 1,000,000 for motorcyclists using phones or audio devices (except hearing aids).

Driving after drinking alcohol

Many drivers often have the habit of driving even though they have consumed alcohol, which not only causes traffic safety problems but also causes the driver to be severely punished. Article 5 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP stipulates as follows:

Fine from 6 to 8 million VND; driver's license revocation for 10 to 12 months if alcohol concentration while driving a car does not exceed 50 mg/100 ml of blood or 0.25 mg/1 liter of breath.

Fine from 16 - 18 million VND; driver's license revocation for 16 - 18 months if alcohol concentration when driving a car is from 50 - 80 mg/100 ml of blood or 0.25 - 0.4 mg/1 liter of breath.

Fine from 30 - 40 million VND; driver's license revocation: 22 - 24 months if alcohol concentration while driving a car exceeds 80 mg/100 ml of blood or 0.4 mg/1 liter of breath.

Run into the emergency lane

Pursuant to Point g, Clause 5, Article 5 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP, a fine of VND 3,000,000 - 5,000,000 shall be imposed on the following acts: driving in the emergency lane or on the shoulder of the highway. In addition, the driver shall also have his/her driving license revoked for 1 - 3 months (according to Point b, Clause 11, Article 5).

Wear headphones while driving

Some people, especially young people, like to ride motorbikes with headphones on, swaying to the music. Wearing headphones causes almost all surrounding sounds such as vehicle noise, horns, commands, etc. to be “ignored” by the ears. This is dangerous for the vehicle owner and others.

Wired headphones can also get tangled, caught on the handlebars or furniture, making driving unsafe.

Similar to using a phone, wearing headphones or using other audio devices while driving is also subject to a fine of 600,000 - 1,000,000 VND according to Decree 100.

Changing lanes or direction without warning

Article 5 of Decree 100/2019/CD-CP clearly stipulates the following fines:

Fine from 400,000 - 600,000 VND for changing lanes in an unauthorized place or without signaling, except for violations specified in Point g Clause 5 of this Article (Point a Clause 2).

Fine from 800,000 - 1,000,000 VND for changing direction without reducing speed or without signaling (except for driving along a curved road section where the road does not intersect at the same level) according to Point c Clause 3.

Fine from 3,000,000 - 5,000,000 VND when the driver does not signal before overtaking (Point d Clause 5).

Use an umbrella while riding a bike

Holding an umbrella in one hand and driving a motorbike in the other will put your safety at risk and leave you unable to handle unexpected situations. A mobile umbrella “sloppy” on the road can also block the driver’s eyes and the view of other vehicles.

Moreover, the umbrella has a large area, easily affected by wind resistance, making the car easily swerve, very unsafe when driving on the road.

Decree 100 clearly states that driving a vehicle using an umbrella will be fined from 600,000 to 1,000,000 VND. Even driving a motorbike with a passenger using an umbrella will be fined from 100,000 to 200,000 VND according to Clause 1, Article 6 of this Decree.

Stopping and parking motorbikes on the bridge

Many people have the habit of stopping and parking their motorbikes on the bridge to "cool off", however, this is strictly prohibited because it can obstruct traffic and lead to traffic accidents.

Running a red light

The Traffic Police Department has pointed out that running red lights is one of the behaviors in the highest risk group leading to traffic accidents.

Decree 100 also severely punishes this behavior. Accordingly, motorcyclists will be fined from 600,000 to 1,000,000 VND for "not obeying traffic light signals".

Go against the flow

Motorbikes are very maneuverable, so many motorcyclists have the habit of going the wrong way on some short stretches of road or on the sidewalk because it is... "convenient". This also poses a potential risk of causing traffic accidents and traffic jams.

Clause 5, Article 6 of Decree 100 clearly stipulates: “A fine of 1 - 2 million VND shall be imposed on drivers who drive in the wrong direction on a one-way street or on a street with a “No entry” sign.”

Use headlights haphazardly

When and where to use high/low beam headlights is clearly regulated in the Road Traffic Law that everyone must learn before being granted a Driver's License.

However, many people, whether intentionally or unintentionally, still turn on high beam mode when driving in urban areas, causing glare and discomfort to oncoming drivers.

Or there are cases of forgetting to turn on the lights at night, in tunnels... causing limited visibility for yourself and other vehicles.

Clause 1, Article 6 of Decree 100 stipulates a fine of 100,000 - 200,000 VND for the act of not using headlights from 7:00 p.m. the previous day to 5:00 a.m. the following morning or in cases of fog or bad weather that limits visibility; using high beams when avoiding oncoming vehicles; using high beams in urban areas and residential areas.

At the same time, a fine of 400,000 - 600,000 VND will be imposed for driving in a road tunnel without using low beam lights.