Nearly 10,500 drivers penalized in Vietnam on New Year’s Day

Nationwide, 49 traffic accidents were recorded on Thursday, killing 18 people and injuring 41 others.

All accidents occurred on roads, with no incidents reported on waterways or railways.

Compared with the same day last year, the figures showed a sharp decline, with 24 fewer accidents, 23 fewer fatalities, and two fewer injuries.

Alongside accident prevention, traffic police across the country intensified enforcement efforts.

Authorities handled 10,493 traffic violations, temporarily impounding 53 cars, 2,408 motorbikes, and 155 other vehicles.

A total of 344 driver licenses were revoked, while penalty points were deducted in 1,742 cases.

Alcohol-related offenses remained common, with 2,056 drivers found violating blood alcohol concentration limits.

Speeding accounted for 2,020 cases, while 93 drivers were booked for overloading vehicles.

Another 87 drivers were fined for using mobile phones or other electronic devices while driving.

On National Highway 1, traffic police inspected more than 7,540 vehicles, including about 1,180 passenger buses, 1,420 trucks, 1,085 cars, 300 container trucks, and 3,400 motorbikes. 

Inspections uncovered more than 1,280 violations across all vehicle categories.

Highway patrol units under the Traffic Police Department also issued tickets to 110 violators on expressways.

Heavy holiday traffic around Hanoi

The first day of the New Year holiday also saw heavy traffic flows on major routes leading out of Hanoi.

With the holiday lasting four days, from January 1 to January 4, many families and groups chose to drive to nearby tourist destinations two to four hours away.

From early morning, vehicles crowded the elevated Ring Road No. 3 toward the Phap Van-Cau Gie Expressway and the Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway.

By around 10:00 am, congestion extended along Ring Road No. 2 and the Vinh Tuy Bridge toward the Hanoi-Bac Giang and Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressways.

On the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway, traffic backed up for more than two kilometers near the Km6 toll station at around 9:00 am. 

This route is a key corridor to northern destinations such as Sa Pa and Tuyen Quang.

Meanwhile, many central streets in Hanoi were quieter than usual. Roads around Hoan Kiem Lake saw steady traffic but no serious congestion.

Several travelers said they left early to avoid traffic.

Chau Thu Phuong, 34, traveled with her husband and three daughters in a seven-seater car for a three-day, two-night trip to UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam.

Others, such as 21-year-old Duong Quan, chose motorbikes for a four-day trip to Ta Xua and Moc Chau in the northern mountainous province of Son La.