How is the order of priority for vehicles determined?
Mr. Nguyen Van Trong, residing in Vinh City, asks: What types of vehicles are considered priority vehicles? What is the order of priority and the color of the emergency lights for these vehicles?
Reply:
Article 27 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024 stipulates:
1. Priority vehicles include fire trucks of the Fire and Rescue Police and fire trucks of other forces mobilized for firefighting; vehicles of military, police and prosecutorial forces on urgent duty; convoys escorted by traffic police; ambulances on emergency duty; dike maintenance vehicles; vehicles on duty for rescue, relief, disaster relief, epidemic control or vehicles on duty in emergency situations as prescribed by law; and funeral processions.
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2. Priority vehicles have the right to proceed before other vehicles at intersections from any direction, in the following order of priority from top to bottom:
a) Fire trucks of the Fire and Rescue Police and fire trucks of other forces are mobilized to perform firefighting duties;
b) Vehicles of military, police, and prosecutorial forces on urgent duty; convoys escorted by traffic police;
c) Ambulances on emergency duty;
d) Vehicles used for dike maintenance; vehicles used for rescue, relief, disaster relief, epidemic control, or vehicles used in emergency situations as prescribed by law;
d) Funeral procession.
3. Priority vehicles specified in points a, b, c, and d of Clause 2 of this Article must have priority signals as prescribed by law. The color of the priority signal lights is prescribed as follows:
a) Fire trucks of the Fire and Rescue Police and fire trucks of other forces mobilized for firefighting duties, vehicles of military forces on emergency duty, and ambulances on emergency duty have flashing red lights;
b) Vehicles of the police and prosecutors on urgent duty, and traffic police escort vehicles with flashing blue and red lights;
c) Vehicles used for dike maintenance; vehicles used for rescue, relief, disaster relief, epidemic control, or vehicles used in emergency situations as prescribed by law, with flashing green lights.
4. Priority vehicles specified in points a, b, c, and d of Clause 2 of this Article are not subject to speed limits; they are permitted to travel regardless of traffic lights, enter the opposite lane, and other accessible roads; however, on expressways, they are only permitted to travel in the opposite lane on the emergency stopping lane; they must obey the instructions of traffic controllers and temporary traffic signs.
5. When a priority vehicle signals its presence, road users and vehicles must reduce speed, move to the right side of the road, or stop to yield. Toll booths must give priority to priority vehicles in all situations and must not obstruct them.
6. The Government shall regulate the management, installation, and use of signal-emitting devices for priority vehicles, and the procedures for issuing, renewing, and revoking licenses for the use of signal-emitting devices for priority vehicles.
7. The Minister of Public Security shall stipulate that domestic delegations and foreign visitors to Vietnam shall be escorted by traffic police vehicles; and shall prescribe the escort procedures for domestic delegations and foreign visitors to Vietnam by traffic police.
