Sidewalk driving declines in Ho Chi Minh City on account of heftier fines
Ho Chi Minh City has seen a major shift in traffic behavior over the past few days, with sidewalks that were once clogged with motorcycles now clear of moving vehicles.
The transformation followed the enactment of Decree 168, which took effect on January 1, and stipulates new administrative penalties for road traffic violations.
As per the decree, riders who ride on the sidewalk shall be fined VND4-6 million (US$157-236), a tenfold increase from the previous regulations.
The effects of the new fines are particularly noticeable at traffic hotspots, such as Phan Van Tri Street in Go Vap District, where sidewalks which were once crowded with moving vehicles during rush hour are now free of traffic.
Prior to the fine increase, the local sidewalks were chaotic.
“During rush hours, people would ride on the sidewalk in long lines. It made me fear for my safety,” said Le Thanh Long, a 51-year-old security guard at a coffee shop on Phan Van Tri Street.
“The noise from honking was constant, and it was impossible for customers to get their motorcycles to move in and out. »
Now, with the new penalties, the sidewalk is quiet and vehicles stick to the road.
Similarly, on Quang Trung Street, another hotspot for traffic jams in Go Vap District, sidewalk riding violations have dropped substantially.
Previously, motorcyclists would use the sidewalk to bypass gridlock, often damaging it in the process. Now, such behavior is rare.
According to Nghia, a member of a youth volunteer team responsible for traffic control on Quang Trung Street, drivers used to speed through red lights, but now, given the heftier fines, they wait patiently.
In Tan Binh District, the notorious traffic congestion on Cong Hoa Street has similarly seen a reduction in sidewalk violations.
The shift in behavior is also noticeable on other streets across the city, including Hoang Sa, Nguyen Binh Khiem, and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia.
By Tieu Bac & An Vi – Tuoi Tre News – January 10, 2025