'Illegal vehicles' increase operations on Vinh city roads

At 9am on December 27, at the bus stop on Quang Trung Street, opposite the Friendship Hotel, there were a few passengers waiting for the bus. Here, there were often 2-3 private drivers soliciting passengers for 50-70 thousand VND/trip to districts and towns in the province. The vehicles of these people were often parked on the sidewalk hidden behind the shield of the bus stop, or parked on the street not far away to conveniently pick up passengers whenever they were "caught".

Here, when they saw an elderly man waiting, two men in their 30s came to ask him questions. When they knew he needed to go to Dung town (Thanh Chuong), they immediately started chatting and then persuaded him to get into the 7-seat car parked behind. The man, after expressing that "70 thousand is more expensive than taking the bus", hesitated a bit but then agreed to get in the car.

In the early afternoon of December 28, at the bus stop on Nguyen Phong Sac Street, Hung Dung Ward, Vinh City, there were many people and vehicles coming and going. The number of people waiting for the bus at this stop was quite large, maintained at about ten people. Among them, there were many "brokers", owners of private cars (also known as "illegal cars") operating the business of transporting passengers from Vinh City to neighboring districts and towns and vice versa.

The bus stop is located opposite the gate of Nghe An Orthopedic Trauma Hospital, buses on bus routes 29, 30, 31 continuously pick up and drop off passengers. In addition, there are buses running fixed routes of districts, towns and taxi companies also coming and going frequently. Ms. Dang Thi Mai and her child, from Yen Thanh district, went to Vinh city for a medical examination. On the morning of December 28, the doctor prescribed medicine for them and they went home for treatment. Ms. Mai and her child were waiting for the Vinh - Yen Thanh bus to go home when 3 middle-aged men came and asked: "Where are you and your child going?"

“Illegal vehicles” hide behind the bus shelter sign to pick up and drop off passengers. (Photo taken at 2:30 p.m. on December 27, 2022). Photo: NK

Ms. Mai said she wanted to go to Yen Thanh, the man invited her: "Go to Yen Thanh by 7-seat car, it's more comfortable and faster". While talking, the man waved his hands and feet to pull Ms. Mai and her child behind the bus stop cover, where a 7-seat Fortuner with license plate 37A 24117 was parked behind. The man said the price "Go to Yen Thanh 70 thousand". Ms. Dang Thi Mai hesitated for a moment, then took her child and followed the man to the car.

After inviting two passengers, Mai and her mother, the 7-seater car rolled out onto Nguyen Phong Sac Street. However, the car did not go straight but continued to circle around, going along Nguyen Phong Sac Street many times to pick up more passengers before going out to National Highway 1A to return to the districts to drop off passengers.

"Illegal cars" pick up passengers at the bus stop opposite the gate of Nghe An Orthopedic Hospital. Photo taken at 2:40 p.m. on December 27, 2022. Photo: NK

According to the reporter's records, the area with many private cars transporting passengers in Vinh city is concentrated at bus stops along Nguyen Phong Sac street, along Nguyen Sy Sach street through Kenh Bac and Truong Thi street. In addition, there are some points on Quang Trung street and in front of the old Vinh bus station.

These vehicles usually gather early in the morning, then spread out to pick-up points and routes in Vinh city to invite passengers to go to the plains districts at prices ranging from 50,000 to 70,000 VND/trip, depending on the distance. Private vehicles carrying passengers from Vinh city to distant mountainous districts such as Con Cuong, Que Phong, Ky Son have higher prices, from 120,000 to 200,000 VND/trip. In addition, depending on the type of vehicle and the number of passengers "caught", the price can be freely adjusted according to the agreement between the vehicle owner and passengers.

It is worth mentioning that the operation of "illegal vehicles" on the roads of Vinh city not only causes unhealthy competition with vehicle companies and businesses registered for passenger transport business, but also often causes chaos, affects security and order, traffic safety on the roads, pick-up and drop-off points, and poses a potential risk of traffic insecurity when these vehicles carry many people but have not registered with the authorities, and have not been guided or controlled to ensure the safety of traffic participants.

Private car owners invite passengers at the bus stop on Quang Trung Street. (Photo taken at 9:00 a.m. on December 28, 2022). Photo: NK

On December 17, the Department of Transport implemented the plan to serve passenger transport during the New Year, Lunar New Year and Spring Festival 2023. For the New Year, the implementation period is from December 25, 2022 to January 7, 2023; Lunar New Year from December 20 to the afternoon of December 30 (ie from January 11, 2023 to January 21, 2023); Spring Festival from January 4 to the end of the season.

Regarding this plan, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Deputy Director of the Department of Transport affirmed that the Department has requested transport units to repair, maintain, and upgrade vehicles; require drivers to sign a commitment to regulations, minimize potential factors that cause traffic safety risks; pick up and drop off passengers at the right places.

Regarding illegal vehicle operations, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai emphasized that to ensure safety for people when participating in traffic during peak periods during Tet, businesses, units, and functional forces need to have mechanisms and solutions to coordinate with localities to do a good job of propaganda, raise cultural awareness, create healthy competition between types of transport businesses; at the same time, increase patrols, inspections and handling of violations against illegal vehicles and illegal stations.