Banning passenger cars from using the first lane of the highway: An urgent solution that should be applied nationwide soon

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung, Head of Management and Operation Department, Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway Management and Operation Company Limited, said that since August 15, the unit has completed the adjustment and addition of the system of signs and prohibition signs, and painted the maximum speed indications on each lane and arranged forces to inspect the pilot project of banning trucks from entering lane 1.

Through the surveillance camera system, most truck drivers have complied with the regulations on lane division and maximum/minimum speed by lane, helping lane 1 to be more open and traffic to flow smoothly.

The accident on lane 1 of the Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressway raises the urgent issue of prohibiting large vehicles from entering lane 1 on the expressway.

According to Mr. Tung, lane separation is necessary to promote infrastructure efficiency and ensure safety. After the pilot period, the unit also proposed that the Vietnam Road Administration consider restricting large passenger vehicles from entering lane 1, and promptly allow repairs to technical systems (VDS, CCTV, cameras) and increase the maximum speed of lane 3 from 100 km/h to 120 km/h, equivalent to lanes 1 and 2.

From the perspective of a transport business, Mr. Le Thanh Long, Director of Trung Thanh General Transport Joint Stock Company, said that banning trucks from entering lane 1 on the highway is "unquestionable", because trucks are bulky, carry heavy loads and do not need to run at high speeds.

“This issue should have been applied in Vietnam a long time ago. With passenger cars, experience from abroad shows that lane 1 is only allowed to be used when overtaking, then must return to the inner lane.

Like in Australia, they only have two lanes and trucks and buses must always drive in the inner lane, never in the lane next to the median strip because that lane is only for cars and small vehicles. Mr. Long shared.

According to Mr. Long, speed regulations abroad are very uniform, not divided into 50 km/h, 60 km/h or 70 km/h like in Vietnam. When entering restricted areas, all trucks and passenger cars must drive at 40 km/h and stay in the inner lane, only cars are allowed to drive at 80 km/h. Car drivers must also proactively adjust their speed because this type of vehicle is easier to control.

The Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway has just completed a pilot program banning trucks from entering lane 1 adjacent to the median strip.

Agreeing with the policy, Mr. Khuc Huu Thanh Hai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dat Cang Trading and Service Joint Stock Company, said that banning trucks from lane 1 on the highway is reasonable. However, if applied to all passenger cars, it could lead to the risk of local congestion in lanes 2 and 3.

According to Mr. Hai, passenger cars today are capable of going fast, not slow, and the most important thing is to solve the problem of awareness of traffic participants on the highway, and to ensure synchronization.

“There are many cases where passenger vans in the middle lane encounter small cars driving at a lower speed and cannot pass, easily causing congestion. Therefore, it is possible to ban 47-seat passenger vans, buses or large vehicles, but it is unreasonable to ban 16- or 29-seat vehicles, because new models of vehicles today run at the same speed as small cars, and are even safer,” Mr. Hai said.

Mr. Vu Duc Trung (Dong Trieu, Quang Ninh), a container driver, said he used to drive on the Hanoi - Hai Phong highway after applying the new regulation and realized that separating the right lane for heavy trucks is both convenient for drivers and ensures traffic safety, limiting congestion.

“If three container trucks drive across three lanes, it will definitely cause traffic jams. The regulation requiring heavy vehicles such as trucks and container trucks to drive on the right helps prevent cars from overtaking. Drivers themselves are also more secure, not worrying about cars suddenly overtaking and causing accidents.” Mr. Trung said.

Many people want to soon apply the ban on large vehicles entering lane 1 on all highways nationwide.

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Kieu Hung (residing in An Bien ward, Hai Phong) said he strongly supports the regulation requiring large vehicles to drive on the right lane, the left lane giving way to vehicles traveling at the correct speed on the highway.

He believes that heavy trucks often do not maintain the correct speed, especially overloaded trucks that run even slower, causing traffic behind to be congested. Therefore, forcing trucks to use the right lane will help clear the road, making it easier to move and much faster than before.

Mr. Hung himself hopes that the regulation prohibiting large vehicles from using the first lane on the highway will soon be applied to all highways nationwide.

Previously, the Traffic Police Department had piloted lane division and new traffic organization on the Phap Van - Cau Gie and Hanoi - Hai Phong expressways.

On Phap Van - Cau Gie expressway:

Lane 1: Maximum speed is 100km/h; minimum speed is 80km/h. At the same time, all types of trucks are prohibited from circulating (except single-cabin and double-cabin pickup trucks; specialized trucks; money transport vehicles; specialized vehicles).

Lane 2: Maximum speed allowed 100km/h; minimum speed allowed 70km/h.

Lane 3: Maximum speed allowed 100km/h; minimum speed 60km/h.

On the Hanoi - Hai Phong highway:

Lane 1: Maximum speed allowed is 120km/h; minimum speed allowed is 90km/h. All types of trucks are prohibited (except single-cabin and double-cabin pickup trucks; specialized trucks; money transport vehicles; specialized vehicles).

Lane 2: Maximum speed allowed is 120km/h; minimum speed allowed is 80km/h.

Lane 3: Maximum speed allowed is 100km/h; minimum speed allowed is 60km/h.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/cam-xe-khach-di-lan-1-cao-toc-giai-phap-cap-thiet-can-som-ap-dung-tren-toan-quoc-5059199.html