Hidden dangers from oversized cargo vehicles

A nightmare for passersby.

In Vinh City, the sight of rickshaws and motorbikes carrying corrugated iron and steel is common on streets such as Nguyen Trai, Phan Boi Chau, Truong Chinh, and Phan Dinh Phung, where many construction material businesses are located. On Truong Chinh Street, traffic jams frequently occur in front of a corrugated iron rolling and stamping facility because the vehicles carrying the iron sheets block the road as they exit the factory. Because of the fear of sharp edges of the iron sheets potentially hitting people, road users have to find places to move aside, further exacerbating the congestion.

In reality, these vehicles all share the common characteristic of carrying bulky goods such as sharp iron and steel, secured only with a few flimsy ropes. Some even drive against traffic to save time and distance.

Ms. Tran Hai Yen, residing in Le Loi ward, said: "Every time I go out, I'm very worried about the rickshaws and motorbikes carrying bulky loads on the road. If people used to say the scariest thing on the road was a tractor, now the scariest thing is probably... the carts carrying corrugated iron and steel. 'There are carts carrying iron or stacks of corrugated iron as sharp as knives, driving recklessly in the middle of the road – it's terrifying to watch. I know they're trying to make a living, but that doesn't mean they should endanger others,' Ms. Yen said."

Mr. Nguyen Van Nghe, residing in Vinh Tan ward, stated that his biggest fear when taking his grandchild to school is the sight of vehicles carrying construction materials or sharp objects, often poorly secured, weaving through narrow alleys and obstructing traffic for other vehicles. “These vehicles carrying iron, corrugated iron, etc., have caused many tragic accidents, which have been widely reported in the media. Therefore, I earnestly hope that the authorities will strictly prohibit this unsafe mode of transportation,” Mr. Nghe suggested.

In fact, there have been quite a few accidents involving vehicles carrying construction materials. As a former victim, Mr. DSD from Le Loi Ward, Vinh City, recounted: "That day, it was midday, and I had to go out. Just as I reached the end of the alley, I encountered a motorbike pulling a makeshift cart loaded with long, tangled steel bars."

Just then, the aforementioned vehicle turned into another alley, but unfortunately encountered an obstacle, causing it to reverse and hit my motorbike. The bundle of iron bars slammed into my motorbike, causing me to fall onto the road. Before I could regain my composure, my hands fumbled with the iron bars, resulting in abrasions." According to Mr. D, after the collision, he fell to the ground feeling dizzy. He was taken to a pharmacy by locals to have his wounds cleaned and bandaged, and it took almost three weeks for them to heal.

Recalling an incident that occurred on Tran Phu Street (Vinh City), Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung from Nghi Kim commune said that at noon, while people were traveling on the road, they witnessed a scene where an elderly man was trying to hold onto his cyclo, helplessly watching sheets of corrugated iron flying everywhere. Faced with this sight, many motorcyclists abandoned their vehicles and fled. Fortunately, only one sheet of corrugated iron hit a pickup truck, causing no injuries.

A suitable and safe transportation plan is needed.

In reality, sometimes, for a little convenience, personal bias, and the need to make a living, sellers and transporters are willing to disregard the dangers of transporting oversized goods using the unsafe methods mentioned above. This causes insecurity for road users. Many people fear that these are "death vehicles," "mobile guillotines"...

Nguyen Van Dung, a taxi driver in Vinh City, expressed his frustration: "Tricycles and motorbikes carrying bulky goods frequently encroach on other lanes, overtake recklessly, and are prone to losing control, making it difficult to react in time to unexpected situations on the road. Therefore, the authorities need to strictly enforce regulations and confiscate the vehicles. In the long term, businesses will be forced to adopt safer and more efficient transportation methods using specialized vehicles."

Speaking with us, an officer from the Traffic Police Team of Vinh City Police Department said: "Given the situation of cyclos and motorbikes pulling modified carts carrying bulky goods, Vinh City Police Department has directed a strong effort to focus on handling the issue; at the same time, they have assigned police officers in wards and communes to go to each neighborhood and household to conduct awareness campaigns… However, enforcement still faces difficulties because the cyclo drivers and motorbike pullers are often over 50 years old and have difficult family circumstances."

During the detection and handling process, officers and soldiers intensified propaganda and explained the dangers of transporting oversized goods, but due to the need to earn a living and because the penalties are still light, they are not enough to deter offenders. Many vehicle owners still find ways to operate during the hours when law enforcement officers are off duty or try to avoid traffic police checkpoints...

Regarding this issue, Mr. NVT, a cyclo driver with many years of experience transporting goods, said that besides carrying regular goods, he also transports iron and steel whenever someone hires him. Mr. NVT admitted that he knows transporting these materials is very dangerous for both himself and other road users, but he has no other choice because he needs to make a living.

According to Mr. Phan Huy Chuong, Deputy Head of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee, in the spirit of "Upholding the law to build a traffic culture," wards and communes in the area need to continue reviewing and promoting awareness, as well as guiding the chuyển đổi of employment for those using cyclos and motorbikes towing modified carts to transport steel, bulky materials, etc. For law enforcement agencies, specifically the traffic police, based on legal regulations, strict action should be taken. In reality, if someone carries sheets of steel more than ten meters long (5-6 times the length of the vehicle), in addition to violating traffic safety regulations, it also endangers the lives of other road users.

It is unacceptable to use the excuse of difficult living conditions to justify transporting oversized goods in violation of traffic laws. This is a dangerous act that disregards the lives and health of both the offenders and other road users. Therefore, in addition to raising awareness, authorities need to increase patrols and resolutely handle violations to ensure traffic safety for the public and prevent unfortunate accidents. Furthermore, the penalties for this offense should be increased, as the current fine of 400,000-600,000 VND per violation, as stipulated in Decree 100/2019/ND-CP, is too lenient and insufficient to deter offenders.

Dang Cuong