Ho Chi Minh City: Over 7,500 Students Cited for Traffic Violations in Eight Months

Confusion Over Electric Two-Wheelers Fuels Traffic Violations The Ho Chi Minh City Police Department issued Official Letter No. 7804/CATP-PC08 dated September 8, 2026, to the municipal Department of Education and Training, reporting on student-related road safety across the metropolis. According to the dispatch, traffic police uncovered and cited 7,580 students for road infractions during the first eight months of 2026, impounding 4,665 motorcycles and 1,575 other vehicles. Traffic police continue to log widespread road violations among students. (Photo: Dieu Mi) Primary infractions included: 3,486 cases of underage vehicle operation 151 alcohol-related driving offenses 2,022 instances of riding without helmets 452 cases of driving without a valid license 73 drivers using mobile phones or electronic gadgets while riding 54 speeding violations 63 instances of driving against traffic 1,976 other various offenses A breakdown by schooling tier shows that middle school students accounted for 974 violations, high schoolers made up 3,505 cases, school dropouts represented 875 cases, and other categories accounted for 1,078 offenses. City police stated that alongside routine street patrols, traffic officers teamed up with local campuses to conduct 672 traffic law awareness sessions across 672 institutions, reaching 474,062 students. Officers also handed out 1,700 helmets and 410,000 safety leaflets. While acknowledging heightened patrols and active educational outreach, police officials stressed that student road compliance remains fraught with complications. Across the eight-month stretch, the city registered 39 student-related traffic accidents (representing 3.5% of overall traffic crashes), resulting in 12 fatalities and 17 injuries—a drop of 31 collisions (79.4%) compared to the same period in 2025. Notably, 10 accidents were caused directly by students operating electric bicycles or electric motorcycles. Authorities pointed out that inadequate road safety awareness and poor driving skills among a subset of youths remain the primary culprits. “Crucially, field observations indicate that many parents and youths cannot distinguish between different electric two-wheelers, assuming that any battery-powered vehicle is simply an e-bike or generically referring to them as electric motorbikes. However, under the 2024 Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, vehicles are classified not by whether they run on gasoline or electricity, but by technical design, rated speed, and engine output. Failing to properly identify electric vehicle categories leads to prevalent violations such as riding unregistered vehicles, riding underage, driving without an appropriate license, or parents handing keys to unqualified youths,” the official police dispatch highlighted. Ho Chi Minh City parents park in active traffic lanes while waiting for dismissal, photographed in March 2026. (Photo: Thuy Hang) Department of Education and Training Issues Guidelines Responding to Police Dispatch No. 7804/CATP-PC08, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training sent an official directive to school administrators throughout the city regarding campus traffic safety for the 2026–2027 academic year. In the directive issued on September 16, education authorities instructed schools to review and implement Prime Ministerial Directive No. 31/CT-TTg dated December 21, 2023. Administrators must ensure that 100% of faculty, staff, and students thoroughly observe road safety regulations. Every school employee and student must sign a traffic compliance pledge within September 2026. Schools are strictly prohibited from receiving, storing, or minding motorcycles or motorbikes parked on campus grounds by students who do not meet legal operating criteria. Whenever a student is caught committing a traffic infraction, administrators must immediately notify local police units to coordinate formal handling. Schools must work alongside local precinct police and families to implement disciplinary and educational measures against student offenders. Designated Drop-Off Zones to Ease School Gate Gridlock The education department directed school administrators to partner closely with parents to keep unqualified minors from operating vehicles, refuse on-campus parking to unlicensed or underage riders, and direct parents to park safely during pickup and drop-off to avoid clogging school perimeters. Parents spill onto roadways while waiting outside a Ho Chi Minh City school, photographed in March 2026. (Photo: Thuy Hang) “Campuses must draw up plans barring motorized traffic and parking within school yards while classes, activities, and recesses are underway; install speed-calming signs; and clearly delineate zones where personal vehicles are forbidden from driving or idling. Guard teams must actively monitor, remind, and guide road users into compliance to safeguard everyone on campus, while sternly handling any vehicles entering or parking improperly,” the department mandated. Institutions are encouraged to open campus gates where feasible, organize designated staging areas during peak arrival and departure windows, and sustain “Safe School Gate” models in collaboration with local ward police and neighborhood authorities. Crucially, schools are tasked with educating both parents and students on how to accurately classify electric bicycles versus electric motorcycles, detailing the legal age and licensing requisites for operating each type. (Source: thanhnien.vn) Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe