Using the phone while driving: New fines and important notes

Fines up to 6 million VND for car drivers

According to Decree 168, the penalty for using a phone while driving has been increased sharply, aiming to raise safety awareness. Specifically, Point h, Clause 5, Article 6 of this Decree clearly states that drivers who use their hands to hold a phone or other electronic devices while the vehicle is moving will be fined from 4 to 6 million VND.

Traffic police can detect these violations through direct patrols or through traffic surveillance camera systems, many of which are integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically identify behavior.

Exceptions and safety measures

The regulation only penalizes the behavior of "using hand-held" and using the phone while the vehicle is moving. Therefore, there are cases where car drivers will not be fined:

• When the vehicle has stopped or parked:If the vehicle is not in motion, the driver may use the phone without violating the law.
• Using the hands-free feature:Drivers are allowed to make or answer calls via the car's Bluetooth connectivity system. Most modern cars are equipped with this feature, allowing conversations without having to hold the phone.
• Using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto:Once the phone is connected to the car's infotainment system, the driver can control functions such as listening to music, giving directions by voice or through buttons integrated on the steering wheel, helping to stay focused while driving.

Strict regulations for motorcyclists and cyclists

For motorcyclists and motorbike drivers, the fine for using a hand-held phone or other electronic device is from VND800,000 to VND1 million, according to Point d, Clause 4, Article 7 of Decree 168. Notably, this fine also applies to the use of audio devices (such as wired or wireless headphones), except for hearing aids.

For bicycle and motorbike drivers, similar behavior will be fined from 100,000 to 200,000 VND, as prescribed in Point h, Clause 1, Article 9.

So, the only and safest solution for motorcyclists or cyclists who want to use their phones is to stop the vehicle completely. Drivers need to observe carefully, reduce speed and pull over to the side of the road in a safe position before using the device. However, in the case of stopping at a red light, the vehicle is not considered "in motion", so the driver can use the phone without being punished.