In Vietnam, truck driver fined $500 for stopping on expressway to urinate

The violation was discovered at around 5:30 am on Saturday while a patrol team from the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security was inspecting a section of the expressway.

Officers spotted a truck driver who had stopped his vehicle on the lane marking in an area where lanes separate and merge, which is not a permitted stopping location on the expressway.

Police checked the driver’s documents and identified him as Tran Ngoc L., 53, a local resident.

L. told officers he had urgently needed to urinate and stopped the vehicle to relieve himself.

Traffic police said stopping on expressway lanes poses serious safety risks because vehicles travel at high speeds and visibility can be limited at night or in the early morning.

They added that the emergency lane on expressways is intended only for unavoidable situations such as vehicle breakdowns, traffic accidents, or other emergencies that prevent drivers from continuing their journey, and drivers must activate hazard warning lights when stopping.

For the violation, L. was fined VND13 million (nearly $500) and had four points deducted from his 12-point driver’s license.

Authorities said they recently penalized 12 other motorists for illegally stopping in traffic lanes or improperly using emergency bays along the Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong – My Thuan – Can Tho expressway.

Each of them received the same fine and had six points deducted from their 12-point driver’s licenses.

Traffic police said many such violations by drivers stem from avoidable reasons such as taking phone calls, resting, relieving themselves, checking cargo, or waiting to pick someone up.

In some cases, vehicles stopped in the emergency lane but partially encroached on the traffic lane, posing safety risks for vehicles behind them.