New Regulation: Children Under 10 Years Old Must Not Sit in the Front Seat of Vehicles Starting January 1, 2026.

The National Assembly has recently passed the Law on Road Traffic Safety and Order, which will come into effect on January 1, 2025. This new law introduces several notable changes to improve road safety in Vietnam.

Children under 10 years old are not allowed to sit in the front seat of a car.

One of the key changes is the requirement that children under 10 years old or shorter than 1.35 meters must not sit in the front seat of a car when traveling on roads. This law, which will come into force on January 1, 2026, also mandates that children under 4 years old must be secured in a child safety seat, unless the car is a commercial passenger vehicle as defined by road traffic laws. Drivers are responsible for ensuring that children are properly restrained with seat belts.

Strict prohibition on driving under the influence of alcohol

The new law maintains a zero-tolerance approach to drunk driving, prohibiting anyone from operating a vehicle on roads while under the influence of alcohol. This is in line with the 2008 Road Traffic Law and the Law on Prevention and Control of Alcohol-Related Harms enacted in 2019.

The determination of alcohol levels in blood or breath to identify drunk driving will be defined by the Ministry of Health, as outlined in Article 87 of the new law.

Introduction of a demerit point system for driver’s licenses

A novel aspect of the new law is the introduction of a demerit point system for driver’s licenses. Each license will start with 12 points, and points will be deducted based on the nature and severity of traffic violations. This information will be updated in a central database as soon as a penalty decision takes effect.

Licenses can regain their full 12 points if no points are deducted within 12 months from the most recent deduction. However, if all points are lost, the license holder will be prohibited from driving the type of vehicle associated with the license that has been revoked.

To regain their license, individuals must wait for at least six months after losing all points and then pass a knowledge test organized by the traffic police. Only upon achieving a passing score will their license be reinstated with a full 12 points.

Regulations for school transport vehicles

The new law also introduces specific regulations for vehicles transporting preschool and school-age children. These vehicles must be equipped with recording devices and anti-forgotten child alert functions. They should not be older than 20 years and must adhere to government-mandated color schemes.

Additionally, vehicles carrying preschoolers or primary school students must have age-appropriate seat belts or dedicated child seats as required by law.

Auctioning of motorcycle license plates

The new law allows for the auctioning of license plates for motorcycles, with a minimum bid of 5 million VND. For automobiles, both white and yellow license plates (the latter for commercial vehicles) can be auctioned, with a minimum bid of 40 million VND.

Bidders must place a deposit equal to or higher than the starting bid for the desired license plate. These provisions will take effect in 2026, and the revenue generated from these auctions will be used to improve road traffic safety infrastructure and management.

The Law on Road Traffic Safety and Order represents a significant step towards enhancing road safety in Vietnam, and its provisions are expected to be rigorously enforced to achieve this goal.

TH (Tuoitrethudo)

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