Students using electric motorbikes: How to manage?

Recently, many students in the province, although under 16 years old, still drive electric motorbikes to school, posing a potential risk to traffic safety. In fact, there have been many collisions and traffic accidents (TNGT) occurring with this age group when using electric motorbikes. It is worth mentioning that many parents are still quite indifferent to the provisions of the law, "carelessly" letting their children violate the Road Traffic Law.

Traffic Police force of the provincial police handle students violating traffic laws.

Electric cars - many benefits

It is quite common for students to ride electric motorbikes or electric bicycles to school. This is because it is a convenient means of transportation, saving time and money. Not having to use physical strength to operate a bicycle helps students have better physical condition and spirit to study.

Ms. Ho Thi Thuy Nga, whose child is studying at a secondary school in Thai Nguyen City, said: My house is far from the school, so when my child was in primary school, I had to take him to and from school. When he was in secondary school, he had to go to school more often, so the family bought him an electric motorbike. I think that riding an electric motorbike helps my child be proactive in his studies, and it also makes it easier for parents. Another parent whose child is studying at Linh Son Secondary School (Thai Nguyen City) shared: Although I know my child is not old enough to drive an electric motorbike, I have to go to work early in the morning so I cannot take him to and from school. Therefore, when my child entered 9th grade, I bought him an electric motorbike so he could go to school by himself. I also often remind my child to drive carefully, not to speed, and to always wear a helmet...

Not only is it reasonably priced and easy to use, according to many parents and residents, using electric vehicles also helps protect the environment, reduce pollution, improve air quality, and protect public health. Encouraging students to use electric vehicles helps form the habit of using environmentally friendly means of transport, contributing to building a green and sustainable economy .

Unpredictable danger

Electric motorbikes are compact vehicles, do not require a driver's license and are easy to control. Therefore, in recent years, the rate of students, especially from junior high school and above in the province, using them has become increasingly popular, especially in urban areas. However, besides the convenience, the danger of traffic accidents related to electric motorbikes is also very unpredictable. Because, for young students, their ability to handle situations and knowledge of Road Traffic Law are still limited.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dai, in residential group 2, Thinh Dan ward (Thai Nguyen city) said: My eldest daughter is in grade 9 this year, she wants her parents to buy her an electric bike to ride but has not yet agreed. The reason is that she is not old enough to drive a vehicle and has not yet mastered the knowledge and skills of participating in traffic, so the risk of accidents is very high. Currently, I still take her to and from school or when she is busy, she rides her bike by herself. According to Ms. Ngo Thi Thuy Huong, a trader at Dong Quang market (Thai Nguyen city): I have witnessed many students driving electric bikes very dangerously. There have been many traffic accidents at Dong Quang intersection because students did not obey traffic lights.

It is not difficult to see on the street quite young students driving bicycles or electric motorbikes.

According to the representative of the Traffic Police - Order Team, Thai Nguyen City Police, there have been a number of cases of students driving electric motorbikes causing traffic accidents. A typical example is the traffic accident on March 8, 2024 on Luu Nhan Chu Street, Group 10, Cam Gia Ward. At that time, Nguyen Hong A. (born in 2009) was driving an electric motorbike in the direction of Cam Gia Ward People's Committee - Gang Thep roundabout when he collided with a car. The accident caused A. to be hospitalized for emergency treatment. Or the recent traffic accident in Tan Lap Ward on the afternoon of June 23. A student born in 2012 was driving an electric motorbike and collided with a car. The accident left this student seriously injured, requiring 13 stitches and a tendon repair in his leg.

Being under age means that knowledge of the Road Traffic Law among school-age children is still limited. According to statistics, in 2023, there were 721 traffic accidents in the province (of which 240 involved students), killing 19 people and injuring 227 people. In the first 6 months of 2024, there were 49 traffic accidents involving students, killing 6 people (of which 3 were students), and injuring 63 people (of which 39 were students).

Although they know that driving a motorbike or electric motorbike when underage poses a high risk of being unsafe and violating the law, many parents are still quite indifferent and "carefree" in letting their children violate the law.

Many arguments from reality

There are many conflicting opinions from reality regarding the ban on underage students riding electric motorbikes to school. Ms. Luu Thi Loan, whose child studies at Quyet Thang Secondary School (Thai Nguyen City), said: I know that letting children ride electric motorbikes when they are underage is a violation, but the authorities should also consider and research appropriately, possibly granting driving licenses to the children. If it is absolutely banned as it is now, it will be very difficult for the people.

Mr. Nguyen Van Huan, a resident of My Yen commune (Dai Tu), said: I have tried riding an electric motorbike and an electric bicycle, and found that the speed is quite fast, just need to turn the throttle a little bit and the vehicle will speed away very dangerously. In my opinion, this issue needs to be strictly managed, because the children are young and do not think thoroughly, so they are easily agitated to speed and recklessly, causing accidents. In addition, there needs to be close coordination between the family and the school. Parents must understand that giving a vehicle to someone underage is a violation and can be subject to criminal prosecution.

Implementing Directive No. 31/CT-TTg dated December 21, 2023 of the Prime Minister on strengthening traffic safety for school-age children in the new situation, in recent times, localities in the province have deployed to schools in the area and informed parents of students. Accordingly, families are requested not to give electric motorbikes or motorbikes (including those with a capacity of less than 50cm3) to students under 16 years old to go to school and when participating in traffic.

- Only people 16 years of age or older are allowed to ride electric motorbikes. In addition, electric motorbike drivers must wear helmets and comply with the Road Traffic Law. Secondary school students aged 11-14 and high school students under 16 years of age are not allowed to use electric motorbikes on the road. If an electric motorbike is handed over to a person under 16 years of age to drive, the person handing over the motorbike will be subject to an administrative fine of 800,000-2,000,000 VND.

- According to regulations, electric motorbikes must register their license plates before they are allowed to circulate. Vehicle owners can register their license plates at the Traffic Police Department of the Provincial Police or the police of the district/county/town/city. The fine for electric motorbikes without a registration certificate and license plate is from 300,000 to 400,000 VND.

To deal with this regulation, many underage students still use electric motorbikes to go to school and leave them at the homes of acquaintances or households near the school. For middle and high school students who are in their teens, when participating in traffic, especially male students, they often like to show off, so their awareness of obeying traffic safety laws is not high, leading to traffic violations.

Talking to us about this issue, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Quang, Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Department, Provincial Police said: To ensure traffic safety and order among school-age children, the Traffic Police force is currently promoting the dissemination of traffic safety laws to teenagers, such as: coordinating with schools to organize dissemination and signing of commitments to comply with traffic safety laws for students as well as their parents.

In case of intentional violations, the school will be notified to take measures to evaluate the students' training awareness and conduct. In addition, the Traffic Police Department also performs basic investigation work well, promptly grasps information about complicated routes and areas where traffic participants frequently violate traffic laws related to teenagers, in order to develop a plan to strengthen inspection and strict handling according to the provisions of the law. At the same time, mobilize maximum forces, equipment, and means provided; closely coordinate with the district-level police force to strengthen patrolling and control work and strictly handle violations in cases where students and parents intentionally violate the following acts: handing over vehicles or allowing unqualified people to drive vehicles to participate in traffic according to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 58, Road Traffic Law, etc.