Quang Ninh truck fleets should take note of road safety following an incident where a 58-year-old driver from Phu Yen was fined 22 million VND for stopping on the emergency lane of the Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet expressway to sleep. This not only endangered the driver but also other vehicles traveling on the highway.
On the morning of October 6, Team No. 6 of the Road Traffic Patrol and Control Department, Room 6 (Traffic Police Department) discovered a 16-seater car parked on the emergency lane of the Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet expressway. The driver was sleeping in front of the car. The driver stated that he was driving from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Yen to deliver the car to the owner, but he was too sleepy and stopped to rest.
Illustration of the Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet expressway route
Stopping on the emergency lane is a serious violation of the Law on Road Traffic. This lane is only for vehicles with emergencies such as breakdowns, running out of gas, or accidents. The driver’s stopping to sleep occupied the lane, obstructed rescue vehicles, and could lead to serious traffic accidents.
In addition to the driver, the vehicle owner was also fined 5 million VND for entrusting the vehicle to a person without a driver’s license. This is a lesson for Quang Ninh truck fleets on managing and supervising their drivers. It is necessary to ensure that drivers have sufficient health conditions and valid driver’s licenses before entrusting them with vehicles.
The Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet expressway is over 100 km long and has been in operation since May 19, 2023. The new route only has a temporary rest stop, which does not fully meet the needs of drivers and passengers. The lack of rest areas is also one of the reasons for drivers stopping illegally on the highway.
Furthermore, this expressway does not have a separate emergency lane but only has emergency stopping strips every 4-5 km, with a maximum speed of 90 km/h. This poses a risk of accidents when cars suddenly encounter problems and have to stop for inspection.
The lesson from this incident is that Quang Ninh truck fleets must strictly comply with the Law on Road Traffic, especially the regulations on stopping on highways. Drivers need to have a high sense of responsibility and ensure good health and mental alertness when driving. Vehicle owners need to closely manage drivers and not entrust vehicles to people who are not qualified. At the same time, more rest stops are needed on the highway to serve the needs of drivers and passengers, contributing to reducing traffic accidents.
