Removing 'black spots' on Highway 51

For a long time, Highway 51 has been a route that is often overloaded, especially with the number of dump trucks and tractor-trailers moving quickly and recklessly, making road users uneasy. Notably, on Highway 51 there are still some “black spots” that pose a high risk of traffic accidents.

Officers of the Thai Lan Intersection Traffic Police Station (Traffic Police Department of the Provincial Police) regulate traffic at the intersection of National Highway 51 - the road leading to the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway (Long Thanh District)

These are also the main reasons why traffic accidents on national highways are always high. In 2022 alone, there were 21 traffic accidents on National Highway 51 passing through the province, killing 20 people and injuring 10 others.

"Death" intersections

“Black spots” on Highway 51 are mainly at intersections with large traffic volumes entering the highway, stone quarries, large construction sites, etc.

The intersection of National Highway 51 with the access road to the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway (Long Thanh District) has long been a "black spot" for traffic congestion on weekends and holidays. Because the number of cars pouring from the expressway to the national highway (and vice versa) often conflicts with the traffic going straight on National Highway 51, leading to traffic accidents.

Specifically, on September 13, 2022, at the above intersection, a serious traffic accident occurred between a motorbike and a car, causing 3 people (all on the motorbike) to die on the spot.

Currently, on the entire National Highway 51, there are 9 locations where the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee has installed traffic surveillance cameras. Thanks to that, it has helped the authorities detect and handle traffic jams; at the same time, it supports the traffic police force in reviewing traffic accident situations to determine the cause and related vehicles.

Similarly, the intersection of National Highway 51 with Nam Cao Street in Phuoc Tan Ward (Bien Hoa City) was also included in the list of "black spots" of traffic accidents on National Highway 51 by the authorities. Currently, this intersection has some damaged locations due to the large volume of dump trucks and trucks on this route. In addition, the road markings at this intersection are worn and blurred in many places, making it easy for trucks and two-wheeled vehicles to encroach on each other's lanes, leading to a high risk of traffic accidents. In fact, there have been many traffic accidents at this intersection in recent years.

The Commander of the Thai Lan Intersection Traffic Police Station (Traffic Police Department of the Provincial Police) said that, in addition to the two "black spots" above, the entire National Highway 51 through Dong Nai territory has a number of other potential traffic accident spots such as: the intersection between National Highway 51 and the dedicated road to Tan Cang quarry cluster (Bien Hoa City), the intersection between National Highway 51 and Provincial Road 769 (Long Thanh District)... These are all intersections with a high density of trucks, dump trucks, and tractor-trailers regularly entering and exiting, and all had fatal traffic accidents in 2022.

Not only that, National Highway 51 also has some infrastructure shortcomings that were noted by authorities during the inspection at the end of April 2023. Specifically, the section through Long Binh Tan Ward (Bien Hoa City) often experiences flooding after heavy rains; the section in front of Son Tien Tourist Area (direction Vung Tau - Bien Hoa) and Song Buong Bridge (Bien Hoa City) has degraded road surface, peeling, potholes, and rutted wheel tracks.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Tri (residing in Phuoc Tan Ward, Bien Hoa City) expressed: “The degraded infrastructure has made road users very worried. Especially when traffic jams occur, 2-wheeled vehicles are crowded with heavy trucks, so it is easy to fall into the blind spots of trucks and tractor-trailers, the risk of collision and traffic accidents is very high.”

Propose many adjustment solutions

Identifying the risk of traffic safety loss from "black spots" and existing shortcomings on Highway 51, local authorities have repeatedly proposed solutions to ensure traffic safety on Highway 51 to the Ministry of Transport as well as responsible units.

Typically, in September 2022, the Provincial People's Committee sent a document to the Ministry of Transport proposing that at the intersection of National Highway 51 with the dedicated road to Tan Cang quarry cluster, it is necessary to add straight arrow lights and directional signs; at the same time, widen the road surface, install a median strip between cars and motorbikes on the 5-lane section.

Particularly at the intersection of National Highway 51 and Nam Cao Street, from Bien Hoa City to Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, the Provincial People's Committee proposed to separate the headlights of cars and motorbikes, ensuring that they do not travel at the same time when the traffic light is green and synchronized with the remaining headlights. However, to date, this plan has not been implemented by the competent authorities.

At the intersection of National Highway 51 and the access road to the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway (Long Thanh District), the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee will continue to propose widening the bow of the train and the access road to the expressway towards Ho Chi Minh City. In particular, it is recommended that competent authorities study the plan to build an underpass from Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to turn right onto the expressway to go to Ho Chi Minh City.

Chief of Office of Provincial Traffic Safety Committee Bui Van Tuan said that, in the immediate future, the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee requests Road Management Area IV (Vietnam Road Administration, Ministry of Transport), Traffic Police Department of Provincial Public Security... to regularly monitor the infrastructure of National Highway 51. At the same time, relevant agencies and units need to continue to review and count the locations of worn and ineffective painted lines on the road, and promptly restore them to ensure safety for people and vehicles during traffic.

In addition, the Traffic Safety Committee also requested the departments and specialized units of Bien Hoa City and Long Thanh District to coordinate with the Road Management Area IV, the Provincial Police, the Department of Transport, etc. to survey and agree on the necessary locations to upgrade the existing number-counting lights at some of the above intersections. From there, there will be a basis for allocating funding to implement the adjustment to increase the green light time on National Highway 51, limiting traffic congestion.

Chairman of Phuoc Tan Ward People's Committee Le Kim Huong hopes that the traffic police force will continue to increase patrols and control vehicles entering and exiting the dedicated road to Tan Cang quarry cluster and Long Thanh golf course intersection. This will prevent accidents between dump trucks and motorbikes while the traffic lights cannot be adjusted as proposed by the Provincial People's Committee to the Ministry of Transport.

Dang Tung

Chief of Office of Provincial Traffic Safety Committee Bui Van Tuan:

Coordinate monitoring of remaining gaps

Regarding the infrastructure shortcomings on National Highway 51, the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee has requested the Road Management Area IV (Ministry of Transport), localities along the route, and the Provincial Traffic Police Department to direct relevant units and traffic police to regularly monitor. In case of any shortcomings or damage to the signaling and warning systems, reports and recommendations will be made to the Road Management Area IV for prompt remediation. At the same time, coordinate with relevant agencies and units to review and count the locations of worn and ineffective painted lines on the route, and promptly restore them to ensure safety for people and vehicles during traffic.

In addition, relevant agencies will conduct surveys and agree on intersection locations that need to upgrade the existing number-counting lights to 3 digits to have a basis for allocating funding to adjust the signal light system on National Highway 51, limiting traffic congestion.

Mr. NGUYEN HUY NINH (residing in Tam Phuoc Ward, Bien Hoa City):

Strictly punish cars that stop and park illegally

On Highway 51, from Gate 11 intersection (Bien Hoa City) to Long Thanh District's welcome gate, cars often stop and park (to eat and drink) occupying the entire lane reserved for motorbikes. In particular, at Song Buong bridge (Phuoc Tan Ward, Bien Hoa City), slope 47 (Tam Phuoc Ward, Bien Hoa City)... even though there are signs prohibiting stopping and parking, trucks still do not comply. These actions have "forced" many motorbike riders to move to the car lane, making collisions more likely, especially during rush hours.

Therefore, to limit traffic conflicts on Highway 51, it is necessary to arrange signs prohibiting stopping and parking for trucks in densely populated areas. At the same time, strictly punish vehicles that intentionally stop and park in violation of the prohibition signs, helping motorcyclists feel more secure when traveling on the road.

Minh Thanh (written)

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