Teenager Driving Motorcycle With Both Feet in Đăk Lăk Faces Police Action

In Vietnam's Central Highlands province of Đăk Lăk, a 17-year-old teenager was apprehended for dangerously operating a motorcycle using both feet and engaging in reckless weaving on public roads. On September 8, the Traffic Police Department of Đăk Lăk Provincial Police, in coordination with Phú Yên Ward Police, announced that they had summoned the youth, a resident of Phú Lâm 4 residential area, Phú Yên Ward, and issued him an administrative violation notice. The teenager was cited for several offenses, including operating a motorcycle with his feet, driving without a helmet, and being underage to operate a motorcycle with an engine capacity exceeding 50cc. The incident occurred around 9:36 PM on August 28, on Hùng Vương Street in Phú Đông 4 residential area, Phú Yên Ward. Video footage shows the teenager lying on the seat of the motorcycle, controlling it with both feet while friends cheered him on, causing fear among other road users. The video was widely shared on social media. In addition to penalizing the teenager, the police also issued a notice to his parents for allowing an unqualified individual to operate a motorcycle. Furthermore, the authorities are proceeding with judicial appraisal procedures to apply the confiscation of the vehicle as a penalty for the violation of operating the motorcycle with his feet, in accordance with Article 7 of Government Decree 168/2024. This incident highlights issues of reckless driving and a lack of traffic safety awareness among the youth in Vietnam. While motorcycle ownership is extremely high due to economic growth, the development of traffic infrastructure and adherence to traffic laws remain significant challenges. Congestion and traffic accidents are common, particularly in urban areas, making the teenager's dangerous behavior a matter that society cannot overlook.