Vietnam Government Addresses Discrepancy Between Highway Safety Distance Rules and Reality

Vietnam is experiencing rapid and positive changes in its legislative development, coinciding with societal progress. Statistics indicate that in 2025 alone, the National Assembly passed nearly 90 laws, marking a historical milestone in the construction and amendment of the legal system to align with real-life practices. However, the application of laws in daily life has revealed certain provisions that impact citizens. Specifically, following public feedback regarding traffic conditions during the recent National Day holiday and the enforcement of penalties for not maintaining safe distances on highways, the government has intervened. On September 1, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc directed the Minister of Construction, in coordination with the Minister of Public Security and relevant agencies, to thoroughly assess current regulations, penalties, practical conditions, and fundamental solutions to ensure traffic safety. Issues beyond the scope of their authority are to be reported to the Prime Minister within September. According to Circular 38/2024 of the Ministry of Transport, which regulates maximum and minimum operating speeds and safe distances for motor vehicles and specialized machinery on roads, the minimum distance between two vehicles is determined by speed. For instance, when the road is dry, flat, visibility is adequate, and there are no specific signs, a vehicle traveling at 60 km/h must maintain a distance of at least 35 meters from the vehicle ahead. For speeds between 60 and 80 km/h, it's 55 meters; between 80 and 100 km/h, it's 70 meters; and between 100 and 120 km/h, it's 100 meters. In reality, during holidays and festivals, traffic density on arterial routes, especially expressways connecting major cities to surrounding areas, frequently becomes strained, leading to congestion. Furthermore, recent road renovations and upgrades have resulted in speed limits of only 40-60 km/h on many sections, while actual travel speeds often reach 100-120 km/h. The inefficient operation of some toll stations has also contributed to traffic jams. Applying the mandated safe distances according to the above circular, considering the actual volume of traffic and road lengths during certain periods, is highly likely to cause vehicles to back up even from the entrance to the expressway. The practical application of vehicle distance regulations on expressways during the recent holiday resulted in significant issues. The government's swift action to address these challenges is clearly anticipated by many citizens. When a regulation proves unsuitable in practice, especially when it affects the legitimate rights of the people, timely intervention by the authorities is crucial. If Vietnam possessed modern infrastructure, the aforementioned regulations might be appropriate. However, in the context of Vietnam, where the transportation infrastructure is being vigorously invested in and developed, it is believed that these peak-hour traffic congestion issues will soon be resolved. Source: Nhan Dan