160 motorcyclists run red lights in 2 minutes in Hanoi, how to stop them ?

While scrolling through social media, I came across a video showing 164 vehicles running red lights in just two minutes at the Nguyen Trai – Khuat Duy Tien intersection in Hanoi.

This alarming number highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement and improved traffic management solutions.

Most of the violators in the video were motorcyclists, riding electric scooters, bikes, or e-bikes. They came from all walks of life, regardless of age or gender, exposing a widespread disregard for traffic laws.

As a Hanoian with over 35 years of driving experience, I am all too familiar with this issue. The actual number of violations at intersections—particularly red-light running—is far higher than the video suggests. People ignore red lights anytime, anywhere, regardless of whether traffic officers are present.

I witnessed a similar incident just this morning. At the small Lang and Yen Lang intersection, a group of four or five motorbikes attempted to cross against oncoming traffic despite the red light showing 25 seconds remaining. Two traffic officers were stationed there, managing the heavy rush-hour flow. What those riders did was a blatant violation—they couldn’t even claim they were a few seconds early.

A traffic officer noticed the riders and tried to stop them, but they sped off. One officer managed to grab onto a young woman’s bike, but she swerved into oncoming traffic to escape, throwing the officer onto the ground.

This scene is a typical example of Hanoi’s traffic, where constant violations overwhelm the limited number of traffic officers. Many drivers seem to believe that if they all break the law together, they’ll avoid punishment. They assume they can blend into the crowd and escape notice.

Even with full deployment of officers, it is impossible to address the sheer volume of violations, especially when most offenders choose to flee rather than face penalties.

These incidents reflect the worrying decline in traffic awareness in Vietnam. Many drivers run red lights regularly, justifying their actions by claiming they are saving time, especially when the road seems empty or when waiting in heavy rush-hour traffic would leave them stuck for what feels like forever. They believe they’re not doing anything wrong as long as they don’t directly harm others.

In reality, most violators knowingly break the law but fail to consider the potential consequences of their actions.

So, what can be done to address this problem?

As I’ve said before, simply deploying more traffic officers won’t be enough if the violations continue at such high volumes. Effective enforcement requires reducing the number of infractions so that officers can manage them more efficiently.

Technology needs to play a bigger role in identifying and penalizing violators. Traffic cameras can capture license plate numbers and even clear images of violators’ faces. With harsher penalties—such as higher fines, license suspensions, or even vehicle confiscations—these measures could deter people from breaking the law.

If the 164 violators captured in the video were strictly penalized, it could set a powerful precedent and likely lead to significant improvements in compliance.

Public awareness does nt stem from slogans or campaigns alone. It requires firm legal enforcement and real consequences. Reckless behavior will persist until motorcyclists fear the consequences of breaking the law.

No matter how modern public transportation becomes or how much the roads are expanded, traffic awareness and road safety in Vietnam won’t improve without tackling this fundamental issue.

By Bao Nam – VnExpress.net – December 9, 2024