Will passenger vans and double-decker sleeper buses be restricted from going up Hai Van Pass?
After a number of traffic accidents involving passenger cars falling into a ravine at Hai Van Pass, the Vietnam Road Administration proposed that the Ministry of Transport work with relevant agencies to study traffic flow, limit long-distance fixed-route passenger cars and double-decker sleeper buses going up the pass (switching to circulating through the Hai Van tunnel).
According to the report of the General Department of Roads, Hai Van Pass is 19.3km long from Km894+800-Km914+100 National Highway 1 (grade 3 mountain road) is a dangerous pass, the terrain is high mountains on one side, deep abysses on the other side and many small radius curves, many large vertical slopes up to 12% and especially Hai Van Pass has many very dangerous hairpin bends. This is also a destination that attracts many visitors to visit and take photos on the pass (not going through the Hai Van tunnel).
Furthermore, from the top of the pass, going north and south continuously downhill, if the driver is not experienced, going downhill in high gear, frequently pressing the brake will cause the brake pads to heat up, burn, and lose braking effect.
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Hai Van Pass is famous for its winding and dangerous roads, including continuous hairpin bends that cause fear for long-distance drivers. |
To ensure increased traffic safety on Hai Van Pass, the General Department of Roads recommends that the Ministry of Transport consider and approve the survey and design of additional evacuation routes under the direction of Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The at suitable locations (currently there are only 8 evacuation routes out of a total of 19.3km of the pass); build additional technical inspection stops at suitable locations on the pass, combined with traffic safety propaganda.
In addition, the Ministry of Transport is working with relevant agencies to study traffic flow, restrict long-distance fixed-route passenger buses and double-decker sleeper buses from going up the pass (switching to circulating through the Hai Van tunnel).
Hai Van Pass will also be supplemented with road signs such as signs, "Long dangerous slope - Use low gear" signs, reflective studs, speed bumps distributed evenly; replace and strengthen the stone guardrail and 1-storey corrugated iron with a 2-storey guardrail with reinforced concrete foundation beams, combined with adding shock-absorbing walls made of old tires at dangerous locations on the negative slope; plant trees (Acacia auriculiformis) on the negative slope to prevent vehicles from falling into the abyss when an accident occurs and create an environmental landscape.
Since the entire road tunnel and the section of National Highway 1 through Hai Van Pass have been handed over to Deo Ca Investment Joint Stock Company for management, operation and maintenance since January 1, 2016 to construct the Hai Van Tunnel expansion project (this section is in the investment and construction phase, not under the direct management and maintenance authority of the General Department of Roads), the General Department therefore recommends that the Ministry of Transport direct Deo Ca Company to implement the above measures to ensure traffic safety and order on the route. The implementation costs are added to the financial plan of the BOT project.
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Rescue forces arrived at the scene to rescue the victims. |
Previously, on January 8, at km 898+200 in the Hai Van Pass area, a passenger car with license plate 51B-22930 traveling in the South-North direction, about 3km from the top of Hai Van Pass in Phu Loc district, Thua Thien-Hue province, had an accident and fell into a ravine about 20m from the road surface. The accident resulted in 1 death and 20 injuries.