In Vietnam, bus owner, driver fined after 29-seat coach caught carrying 51 passengers

Hanoi traffic police have taken action against a long-haul bus operating on the Ninh Binh-Hanoi route after it was found carrying more passengers than permitted, a representative of the Traffic Police Department under Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security said on Monday.

The case stemmed from an inspection conducted on Sunday evening after the Traffic Police Department instructed Hanoi traffic police to pull over and inspect the bus.

The vehicle was traveling on National Route 1A from Ninh Binh toward Hanoi’s Giap Bat Bus Station.

The bus, driven by N.V.P., 58, from Xuan Giang Commune in Ninh Binh, was discovered carrying 51 passengers despite being licensed to transport only 29.

Under Decree 168, police fined the driver 11 million (US$418) for operating a bus with more passengers than its licensed capacity and deducted four points from his 12-point driver’s license.

Authorities also cited the vehicle owner, P.V.D., 62, from Nam Ninh Commune in Ninh Binh, for allowing the employee to operate the vehicle while committing the violation.

The owner was fined VND22 million ($837) and had the vehicle’s contract transport operating badge suspended for two months.

The Traffic Police Department said ensuring road safety in passenger transport operations must remain the top priority, adding that bus operators and owners cannot leave passengers’ lives and property at risk by failing to comply with safety regulations.

Since late July, authorities have been conducting comprehensive inspections of passenger transport businesses, including reviews of the responsibilities of road safety management personnel and driver training and road safety education programs.