Navigating Vietnamese roads, especially for truck drivers, requires a solid understanding of traffic signs. Among these, the 5-ton truck restriction sign is crucial to heed, preventing traffic violations and ensuring safety for everyone. So, what exactly is a 5-ton truck restriction sign? What types exist? How do you recognize them, and what are the penalties for violations? Let Xe Tải Mỹ Đình guide you through the details in this article.
What is a 5-Ton Truck Restriction Sign?
The 5-ton truck restriction sign is a regulatory traffic sign designed to limit or prohibit trucks with a total weight (vehicle plus cargo) exceeding 5 tons from operating on specific roads or areas. The primary purpose of this sign is to protect road infrastructure, enhance traffic safety, and reduce congestion and environmental pollution in urban areas or roads with weight limitations.
Encountering this sign means your truck (if its total weight exceeds 5 tons) is not permitted on the indicated road or area. Obeying the 5-ton truck restriction sign is not just a driver’s obligation; it’s a contribution to a more civilized and safer traffic environment.
Common Types of 5-Ton Truck Restriction Signs
Currently, according to the National Technical Regulation on Road Signs and Signals QCVN 41:2019/BGTVT, several truck restriction signs relate to weight limits. Drivers need to distinguish these clearly, especially those easily confused with the 5-ton truck restriction sign. Here are two of the most frequently encountered types:
Sign P.106b: Truck Restriction Sign (By Weight)
Sign P.106b is a circular sign with a white background, red border, and a red diagonal slash from top to bottom, left to right. The distinctive feature of this sign is a black truck symbol and a weight value (e.g., “5T”, “3.5T”, “2.5T”…) prominently displayed in the center.
Meaning: Sign P.106b prohibits all types of trucks (including tractors and specialized vehicles) with a total weight (gross vehicle weight plus cargo weight) exceeding the value indicated on the sign from entering the signposted area. Therefore, if you see sign P.106b with “5T” inscribed, this is the 5-ton truck restriction sign we’re discussing. It prohibits trucks with a total weight of 5 tons or more.
It’s crucial to note that sign P.106b restricts based on total weight, not cargo weight alone. This implies that even if your truck has a design payload exceeding 5 tons, but the actual total weight (vehicle + cargo) is less than or equal to 5 tons, you might not be restricted (depending on the specific regulations of each sign).
Sign P.106a: General Truck Restriction Sign
Sign P.106a shares a similar shape and color scheme with P.106b (circular, white background, red border, red diagonal slash). However, the key difference is that sign P.106a only features a black truck symbol without any weight value inscribed.
Meaning: Sign P.106a signifies a general prohibition for all types of trucks, regardless of weight. This sign is typically placed in areas where local authorities aim to completely restrict trucks due to narrow roads, densely populated residential areas, or other specific reasons.
Distinguishing P.106a and P.106b:
- P.106a: Prohibits all trucks (regardless of weight).
- P.106b: Prohibits trucks with a total weight exceeding the value indicated on the sign (e.g., 5T, 3.5T…).
Therefore, when encountering a truck restriction sign, carefully observe whether it is P.106a or P.106b. If it’s P.106b and displays “5T”, then it is indeed the 5-ton truck restriction sign.
How to Recognize the 5-Ton Truck Restriction Sign
To accurately identify the 5-ton truck restriction sign (sign P.106b), pay attention to these characteristics:
- Shape: Circular.
- Color: White background, red border, with a red diagonal slash.
- Symbol: A black truck symbol in the center of the sign.
- Number: Contains the number “5T” (or other weight values like 2.5T, 3.5T…) clearly displayed on the truck symbol within the sign.
When you see a sign with all these features, especially the “5T” marking, it is definitively the 5-ton truck restriction sign. Ensure your truck complies with the weight regulations to adhere to this sign.
Penalties for Violating the 5-Ton Truck Restriction Sign (2024 Update)
Violating the 5-ton truck restriction sign (sign P.106b with “5T”) will result in penalties as per current legal regulations. According to Decree 100/2019/ND-CP (amended and supplemented by Decree 123/2021/ND-CP) governing administrative penalties in road and rail traffic, the penalties for this violation are as follows:
- Fine: From VND 1,000,000 to VND 2,000,000 for drivers operating trucks in violation of the 5-ton truck restriction sign.
- Additional Penalties:
- Suspension of driving license for 1 to 3 months.
- If a traffic accident is caused, suspension of driving license for 2 to 4 months.
Note: The above penalties apply to the act of entering a road with a general truck restriction sign and specifically the 5-ton truck restriction sign. Penalties are subject to change according to legal regulations at any given time.
To avoid penalties and ensure traffic safety, truck drivers must always pay close attention to and strictly comply with traffic signs, especially the 5-ton truck restriction sign.
Conclusion:
Understanding the 5-ton truck restriction sign is crucial for truck drivers to ensure safety and legal compliance. Xe Tải Mỹ Đình hopes that this article’s detailed and easy-to-understand information will provide drivers with valuable knowledge for safer and more efficient road participation. Always drive cautiously, obey traffic laws, and contribute to building a civilized traffic environment!
