Potential risk of traffic accidents

(Baonghean) -Using a mobile phone while driving is against the law. However, in reality, this situation is quite common, causing danger to the traffic participants themselves.

Although the accident happened a long time ago, Nguyen Van Giap, who lives in Nghi Trung commune, Nghi Loc, is still shocked every time he mentions it. That day, Giap drove from his home to Vinh. While riding his motorbike, his girlfriend called him, so he listened to it while driving. He arrived in front of Nghi Loc 1 High School gate right at the end of school. Because he was engrossed in talking on the phone, Giap did not pay attention and crashed into a group of students who fell into the road. Giap's car and person slid a long distance, only stopping when they encountered a road embankment. The collision caused a traffic jam, the group of students were scared out of their wits, Giap was injured and had to be treated, and his car was severely damaged.

This is one of many cases of accidents caused by using phones while driving. However, in reality, many people, especially young people, still do not give up the habit of driving while talking on the phone or texting, listening to music while driving... Mr. Nguyen Lam Hong, residing in Hamlet 12, Nghi Kim Commune, Vinh City, complained: Many drivers are so engrossed in their cell phones that when stopping at a red light at an intersection, even when the light turns green, they still do not know to let the car pass, despite many cars behind having to stop and honk loudly. Ms. Tran Thi Hien, residing in Block 8, Le Loi Ward, Vinh City, was upset: The most frightening thing about going out on the road is meeting people who are driving while using their phones, not paying attention to the direction of travel, even when turning left or right, ignoring the law, not signaling, just speeding.

Talking on the phone while driving can easily distract you and lead to accidents.
(Photo taken on Quang Trung Street (above) and Mai Hac De Street - Vinh City).

According to the provisions of Decree No. 71/2012/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 34/2010/ND-CP dated April 2, 2010 of the Government regulating administrative penalties for violations in the field of road traffic, the fine for the act of driving a vehicle while listening to the phone has been increased to 60,000 VND to 80,000 VND. Recently, the Ministry of Transport has also completed the draft Decree on administrative penalties for violations in the field of road and railway traffic to replace Decree 34/2010/ND-CP and 71/2012/ND-CP. If passed, this new draft Decree will still maintain the fine of 60,000 - 80,000 VND for the act of driving a motorbike or moped (including electric motorbikes) while using a mobile phone, but will also stipulate the act of using a mobile phone while driving a car or similar vehicle with a fine 10 times higher than that for a motorbike driver, equivalent to 600,000 - 800,000 VND/violation.

The law stipulates that, however, in reality, the situation of drivers using mobile phones while participating in traffic is still quite common. According to the analysis of the authorities, driving while using the phone makes the driver's mind distracted, the ability to observe is affected, the vehicle control is less responsive, if encountering an unexpected situation, will be confused, not handling it in time, then an accident is inevitable. In addition, there are cases where users of expensive phones are followed by bad guys, endangering themselves and other road users.

Like the case that happened to Nguyen Thi Bich Nguyet, residing in Nghi Xuan (Nghi Loc) in the evening of early August, on Ho Tung Mau street. At that time, Nguyet was driving and talking on the phone, suddenly two young men on a motorbike approached, snatched Nguyet's phone and quickly accelerated and ran away. Because of the surprise, Nguyet staggered and almost fell off her bike, before she could regain her composure, the two robbers and the Iphone 4 worth 8 million VND had disappeared into the crowd.

Talking to us, Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Duy Ha, captain of the Traffic Police Department of Vinh City Police, said: In many cases, when the traffic police fined them and asked them the reason for the violation, they said they did not know there was a prohibition. However, there are also many people who admitted that they knew that driving while listening to a mobile phone is a violation of the law, but they were still indifferent and deliberately violated the law, sometimes citing the reason "I was in such a hurry that I couldn't stop the vehicle in time". However, among the reasons for the situation of using mobile phones while participating in traffic, partly because the fine is still low, and partly because it is difficult for the authorities to detect violators, especially when driving cars... Therefore, since the beginning of the year, only 10 cases of motorbikes have been fined.

Thus, to thoroughly resolve the behavior of using phones while driving, the authorities and local governments need to strengthen propaganda work, raise people's awareness of the Traffic Law, and carry out synchronous measures to make people see the harmful effects of driving and using phones at the same time. Along with that, the traffic police force needs to pay attention to reminding and promptly handling violations to deter and gradually stop this behavior, only then can it contribute to reducing traffic accidents and bringing safety to the people.

Article and photos: Dang Nguyen