Vietnam Reviews Highway Safety Distance Regulations to Enhance Traffic Safety

The Vietnamese government has instructed relevant ministries and local authorities to urgently re-examine regulations concerning safe distances on highways, penalties, and measures to mitigate traffic congestion. In a directive dated September 1, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Túc requested the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Construction, and the People's Committees of provinces and cities to promptly investigate and address issues reported by the press regarding traffic violations and accidents during the National Day holiday (September 2), particularly the enforcement of penalties for failing to maintain safe distances on expressways. The Ministry of Construction, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Security and related agencies, will conduct a detailed assessment of current regulations on safe distances, penalties, practical conditions, and fundamental measures to ensure traffic safety. Matters exceeding its authority will be reported to the Prime Minister within September. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has issued a warning about the increasing risk of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreaks. According to the infectious disease surveillance system, nearly 100,000 HFMD cases have been recorded nationwide in the first 8.5 months of the year, a more than 2.5-fold increase compared to the same period in the previous year. In the last four weeks alone, approximately 3,000 cases have been reported weekly, primarily concentrated in major southern cities. The Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health explained that HFMD commonly affects young children and can spread rapidly within families, communities, and schools. The disease is endemic year-round and typically peaks in September-October, coinciding with the return of children to school, thus increasing the risk of infection. The Ministry of Health recommends that families and educational institutions practice "3 clean principles": clean eating, clean living, and clean hands, and regularly sanitize toys, desks, chairs, and all surfaces children come into contact with. Kindergartens and preschools are urged to monitor children's health, detect early signs of fever, mouth sores, or blisters, and coordinate promptly with families and healthcare facilities to manage cases and limit transmission.