Amendments to Decree 168/2024/ND-CP: Streamlining procedures; no increase in penalties.
Regarding the draft Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Government Decree No. 168/2024/ND-CP, Lieutenant Colonel Pham Viet Cong - Deputy Director of the Traffic Police Department, Ministry of Public Security, affirmed the consistent viewpoint throughout the drafting process of the decree as "not increasing the fine amount, not increasing the point deduction amount, and not revoking the right to use driving licenses".
According to Lieutenant Colonel Pham Viet Cong, after more than a year of implementing Decree No. 168/2024/ND-CP, it has basically met the requirements for enhancing the effectiveness of state management. The results of handling violations have increased significantly, and traffic accidents have decreased noticeably compared to the same period (compared to the same period in 2024, there was a decrease of 5,293 cases, 708 deaths, and 5,257 injuries). This shows that Decree No. 168/2024/ND-CP is playing a crucial and effective role in ensuring road traffic order and safety. The current penalties have ensured the goal of preventing traffic accidents and raising awareness of compliance with laws on road traffic order and safety.
"Given the current state of road traffic order and safety, maintaining the current penalty and point deduction system is necessary to maintain stability and prevent and reduce traffic accidents," said Lieutenant Colonel Pham Viet Cong.
Based on the revision and supplementation process as directed by higher authorities, the view of the Ministry of Public Security and the agency in charge of drafting and advising the Ministry of Public Security and the Government is not to increase the monetary fines, nor to increase the point deductions for violations.
In addition, many new regulations have been changed to minimize administrative procedures. For example, in some cases, vehicles will not be impounded or drivers' licenses will not be revoked immediately; the requirement for taxis and transport vehicles to install child safety seats has been removed, as well as regulations on transportation business activities… and many behaviors have been described and clarified further.
Regarding penalties, Lieutenant Colonel Pham Viet Cong stated that current regulations have been standardized, especially in the area of vehicle registration management. This aims to create the most favorable environment, avoiding regulations that significantly impact citizens, businesses, and related organizations.
The agency drafting the decree has implemented numerous administrative procedure reform solutions, with most processes being carried out online; applying science and technology to administrative procedures from licensing to the procedures for handling violations, creating favorable conditions for citizens in the process of exercising their rights.
Driver's license renewal integrated with electronic identification.
Lieutenant Colonel Pham Viet Cong also stated that, in order to tighten management and simultaneously reduce procedural pressure and compliance costs for businesses, the draft Decree amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 168/2024/ND-CP and the draft Decree amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 151/2024/ND-CP have added regulations aimed at shifting from manual, paper-based management to data-driven, technology-based management and comprehensive digital transformation; and promoting the application of modern science and technology in state management.
The focus is on building a database on road traffic order and safety. At the same time, regarding administrative procedures stipulated in Decree No. 151/2024/ND-CP, the drafting agency has proposed decentralizing authority, reducing processing time, and allowing the use of electronic documents instead of paper documents when submitting applications to reduce procedural burdens and compliance costs for citizens and businesses.
Typically, procedures related to vehicle registration, vehicle inspection, and driver's license issuance/renewal are now largely carried out online and integrated with electronic identification. After successfully passing the driving test, citizens can receive an electronic driver's license directly through the system for use in traffic, without having to wait for a traditional driver's license.
Besides streamlining procedures, the two draft decrees also strengthen management of transportation businesses, especially for vehicles with a high risk of causing traffic accidents. The amendments focus on enhancing the responsibility of vehicle operators, vehicle owners, and transportation businesses in managing drivers, vehicles, and operating hours to ensure traffic order and safety.
