Many drivers of cars and motorbikes have a habit of honking their horns indiscriminately without knowing that this is a prohibited act and can result in quite heavy penalties.
According to Article 8 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law, prohibited behaviors include "continuously honking the horn or revving the engine; honking between 10 PM and 5 AM; using air horns; and using high-beam headlights in urban areas and densely populated areas."
Therefore, drivers of cars, motorcycles, and similar vehicles are not allowed to honk continuously anywhere and at any time; they are not allowed to use car horns between 10 PM and 5 AM, or use air horns at any time when driving in urban areas or densely populated areas.
Honking the horn in the wrong place can result in heavy fines according to Decree 100/2019/ND-CP (Decree 100) on administrative penalties in the field of road and rail transport (amended and supplemented by Decree 123/2021/ND-CP).
Specifically, for cars and similar vehicles, the misuse of horns will be penalized according to Article 5 of Decree 100 as follows:
- Fines of 300,000-400,000 VND will be imposed for honking in urban areas and densely populated areas between 10 PM the previous day and 5 AM the following day; and for honking in areas with signs prohibiting the use of horns, except for priority vehicles as prescribed.
- Fines ranging from 800,000 to 1,000,000 VND will be imposed for continuously honking the horn; or using air horns in urban areas or densely populated areas, except for priority vehicles on duty as prescribed.
For motorcycles and scooters, improper use of horns is also subject to severe penalties according to Article 6 of Decree 100 as follows:
- A fine of 100,000 to 200,000 VND will be imposed on drivers who honk their horns between 10 PM the previous day and 5 AM the following day in urban areas or densely populated areas; or who honk their horns in areas where horn use is prohibited, except for priority vehicles on duty as prescribed by regulations;
- If a driver honks continuously in urban areas or densely populated areas, they will be fined between 400,000 and 600,000 VND.
It can be seen that, although legal regulations and penalties for indiscriminate honking have been in place for a long time, in reality, violators are very rarely stopped and fined for this offense.
Penalties for not wearing a helmet in 2024
According to the regulations in Decree 100/2019/ND-CP and Point B, Clause 4, Article 2 of the supplementary Decree 123/2021/ND-CP, the act of not wearing a helmet while participating in traffic will be subject to the following specific penalties:
- A fine of 400,000 to 600,000 VND will be imposed for the act of carrying passengers on a motorcycle who are not wearing a "motorcycle helmet" or who are wearing a "motorcycle helmet" but the chin strap is not fastened correctly, except in cases of transporting sick people for emergency medical treatment, children under 6 years old, or escorting people who have committed legal violations.
- A fine of 400,000 to 600,000 VND will be imposed for not wearing a "motorcycle helmet" or wearing a "motorcycle helmet" without properly fastening the chin strap while operating a vehicle on public roads.
If both the driver and the passenger fail to wear helmets as required, they will be fined administratively, with a total penalty of 800,000 to 1,200,000 VND.
Accordingly, the current fine is double what it was before, when Decree 100/2019/ND-CP stipulated that the fine for not wearing a helmet while riding a motorbike was only 200,000 - 300,000 VND.
Source
Comment (0)