Strictly implement the ban on the circulation of cars that have expired their usage period.

(Baonghean) -According to statistics from the Nghe An Motor Vehicle Registration Center, the total number of cars in the province that expired in 2012 was 314, including 259 trucks and 55 passenger cars. However, up to this point, the number of cars that have come to return their license plates and registration papers can be counted on the fingers.

Major Le Hong Son, Deputy Head of the Provincial Traffic Police Department's Handling Team, said: Since the beginning of the year, the Traffic Police force has discovered and handled 10 cases of using fake inspection books and fake stamps for circulation. Along with that, on average, nearly 2,000 cases of cars violating technical safety errors related to brakes, technical equipment, safety components, vehicles not meeting environmental protection standards are handled every month...

Thus, it can be seen that many vehicle owners find every way to operate expired vehicles that do not ensure technical and environmental safety, leading to a very high risk of causing traffic accidents. Because expired vehicles often have problems with brakes, technical equipment, and safety components. These components can fail at any time. And many traffic accidents have occurred due to brake failure, equipment failure... In addition, these "outdated" vehicles also pose a high risk of fire and explosion because the gas tank is old and rusty, and the fuel pipes are prone to leaks, leading to fire and explosion.

Traffic police and inspectors check passenger buses on Le Loi Street, Vinh City.

Mr. Nguyen Quy Khanh - Director of Nghe An Motor Vehicle Inspection Center, said: According to regulations, expired cars, when it comes to the final inspection, must return the book to the local Inspection Center. However, in reality, this is very rare. And although the Government has propagated and popularized regulations on the age of cars, sent notices to vehicle owners whose cars are about to expire... However, owners of expired cars often find ways to evade and deal with it by only using expired cars to transport goods, running in remote areas, at night. There are long-distance car owners who, after their cars have expired, bring their cars back to use for intra-provincial routes. If checked by the traffic police, the drivers will not present the inspection book, but will give the excuse of forgetting to bring it. Many drivers even directly edit the inspection book, then photocopy it and only present the photocopy when "questioned" by the traffic police.

Mr. Tr.VT, whose truck previously transported goods within the province, has now expired and has switched to collecting sugarcane in the raw material area in a mountainous district, said: "I am also worried if the traffic police discover it, but one day at a time, one day at a time, it would be a waste to throw it away and selling it as scrap metal would not yield much."

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Duy Dong - Deputy Head of the Provincial Traffic Police Department discussed: In addition to mobilizing maximum forces, technical equipment and vehicles to inspect and strictly handle cars that exceed the speed limit, drive on the wrong side of the road, illegally overtake, do not ensure technical safety standards... The Department also contacted the Motor Vehicle Registration Center to notify the list of vehicles that have expired their usage period so that the Traffic Police force can promptly detect and handle them so that they do not continue to circulate.

According to Mr. Phan Huy Chuong, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Department of Transport, the Provincial People's Committee has issued Decision No. 2209/QD-UBND-NC on the establishment of an interdisciplinary inspection team to handle oversized, overloaded vehicles and prohibited vehicles. Accordingly, from May 30 to July 30, 2013, the compliance with the provisions of the law on freight transport will be inspected by organizations and individuals in the province (especially oversized vehicles, overloaded road bridges, overloaded design vehicles; expired vehicles; farm vehicles, 3-4 wheeled homemade vehicles).

Thus, it can be seen that, in addition to the need to propagate to make drivers aware that the circulation of vehicles that do not meet technical conditions, safety parameters, and expired vehicles is not only a risk of causing accidents for traffic participants but also dangerous for drivers. The Registration Center, the Traffic Police force, and the Traffic Inspectorate need to have synchronous coordination to promptly notify, inspect, and punish violations. Moreover, it is necessary to increase the fine level commensurate with the level of danger if causing an accident... Only then will the situation of using vehicles that do not meet safety parameters and "expired" vehicles end.

Decree 71/2012/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 34/2010/ND-CP dated April 2, 2010 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions in the field of road traffic stipulates: Fines from 4 to 6 million VND for one of the following violations: driving a vehicle that has exceeded its usage period (if there are regulations on usage period); using an Inspection Certificate, Certificate, technical safety and environmental protection inspection stamp, vehicle registration certificate not issued by a competent authority, or using a vehicle registration certificate with incorrect chassis number, engine number (including trailers and semi-trailers)... In addition to the fine, the violating vehicle driver is also subject to additional penalties and remedial measures such as confiscation of the vehicle and revocation of the right to use the driver's license for 60 days.

According to Decree 95/2009/ND-CP of the Government, the life span of a car is calculated starting from the year of manufacture (in some special cases when permitted by the Prime Minister, the life span is calculated from the year of first registration of the car). Accordingly, the life span for cargo cars is no more than 25 years; for passenger cars is no more than 20 years; for cars converted from other types of vehicles to passenger cars before January 1, 2002, it is no more than 17 years.

Article and photos: Dang Nguyen