The New Traffic Fines: What Young People Have to Say

With the enforcement of higher fines for traffic violations, this Decree is expected to raise awareness among road users and reduce accidents.

Some citizens are still unaware of the new fines

In Hanoi, from the very first day of the new year (January 1st), traffic police forces deployed multiple checkpoints and violation handling. As observed by journalists on numerous streets, the majority of citizens complied with traffic rules, yet there were still a few violators of the Traffic Law, and some citizens expressed surprise at the new fines…

At the intersection of Nguyen Son and Nguyen Van Cu (Long Bien District, Hanoi), the traffic situation was relatively stable, with most citizens obeying traffic laws. Most vehicles stopped at the designated lines, and there were no violations.

Citizens displaying good awareness in obeying traffic signals at the Nguyen Chi Thanh – Huynh Thuc Khang intersection

At the Nguyen Chi Thanh – Huynh Thuc Khang intersection, which usually experiences high traffic volume, violations such as ​​​​​​running red lights and lane encroachment often occur. However, since the implementation of the new fines, road users have become more disciplined, stopping at the line when the light turns green in the final seconds.

Nevertheless, there were still violators who expressed surprise at the significantly increased fines. A female motorcyclist from Dong Xuan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, who was fined for running a red light, shared: “Due to a family emergency, I went through the red light about 6 seconds early and was fined 5 million VND (approximately 210 USD), whereas previously, the fine would have been around 800,000 VND (approximately 34 USD). I was unaware that the fine had increased so much.”

There are still cases of motorcyclists not wearing helmets, running red lights, and driving in the wrong direction at the Nguyen Chi Thanh – Chua Lang intersection

The high fines make road users more cautious

Most citizens are aware that Decree 168/2024/ND-CP came into effect on January 1st, and the majority support the new regulations. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, a truck driver, shared: “I agree with the increase in fines as a stronger deterrent for violators. Heavier fines will make people more cautious when on the road. If everyone abides by the rules, accidents will decrease. However, I also hope that the authorities will allocate more time for propaganda before enforcing such strict regulations,” expressed Mr. Hung.

Citizens complying with traffic signal regulations on multiple streets

Sharing his viewpoint on the new fines, young citizen Dinh Le Anh Tuan from Long Bien District said: “I’ve noticed that, for the past two days, motorcyclists are no longer as chaotic as before, and everyone displays better traffic awareness. This shows that when fines are increased, people become more concerned about the economic impact of violations and thus obey traffic laws more strictly. This will help reduce unnecessary accidents. I agree with and support this decision.”

During these initial days, at checkpoints for handling traffic violations, functional forces have been propagating and guiding citizens.

Additionally, the task forces coordinate with the Traffic Command Team and the Traffic Signal Control Team (Hanoi Traffic Police Department) to utilize surveillance cameras to detect violations. When a traffic police officer stops a vehicle, the functional forces will show the violators the footage of their infractions.

Since the increase in fines for traffic violations, most citizens have become more cautious on the road

Many opinions suggest that to maximize the effectiveness of Decree 168, there needs to be close coordination between functional agencies and citizens. Propaganda work needs to be strengthened, not only through the media but also within residential communities. Additionally, there is a need to upgrade traffic infrastructure to support citizens in complying with the regulations.

Moreover, ensuring transparency and fairness in handling violations is essential. Alongside this, technological applications such as traffic surveillance cameras and automatic penalty systems should be widely deployed.

By Dinh Trung (Tuoitrethudo)