Road Traffic Act 2024 in the US

Road Traffic Act 2024 in the US After more than 15 years of implementation, the 2008 Road Traffic Law has revealed numerous limitations and inadequacies. Many provisions of the Law no longer meet the demands of managing road traffic activities, nor do they keep pace with the development of traffic infrastructure and the current situation of order and safety on Vietnam’s roads. It is therefore imperative for the competent authorities to study and improve the legal framework governing road traffic to establish a solid legal basis for ensuring traffic order and safety, safeguarding the lives and health of road users, fostering a society characterized by discipline, order, and safety, and contributing to better protection of human rights and citizen rights as stipulated by the 2013 Constitution and the international treaties to which Vietnam is a party.
Road Traffic Act 2024 in the US

In Conclusion No. 19-KL/TW dated October 14, 2021, issued by the Politburo on the orientation of the legislative program for the 15th National Assembly term, and the approval of Project No. 292-ĐA/ĐĐQH15 dated October 20, 2021, by the Party Delegation of the 15th National Assembly regarding the legislative program orientation for the 2021-2026 term, one of the tasks set forth was to research and draft a Law on ensuring road traffic order and safety to be considered for inclusion in the 2022-2023 legislative agenda. This directive was further emphasized in Directive No. 23-CT/TW dated May 25, 2023, of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party’s leadership over road traffic order and safety work in the new context. The directive assigns the task to “focus on reviewing and comprehensively perfecting the legal system on traffic, clearly defining state management responsibilities for ensuring road traffic order and safety linked with maintaining security, social order and safety, developing traffic infrastructure, and promoting socio-economic development; drafting and promulgating the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety and the Road Law to concretize this orientation.” Thus, the continued development and completion of legislation on road traffic order and safety is a consistent leadership viewpoint of the Party and State and an inevitable requirement in the process of perfecting the socialist rule-of-law State of Vietnam in the new era.
Road Traffic Act 2024 in the US

The Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety was adopted by the 15th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on June 27, 2024, and takes effect from January 1, 2025, except for the provision that “When transporting children under 10 years old and under 1.35 meters in height in cars, children are not allowed to sit in the same row as the driver, except for cars with only one row of seats; the driver must use and instruct the use of appropriate safety devices for children,” which takes effect from January 1, 2026. The 2024 Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety consists of 9 Chapters with 89 Articles, adding one Chapter compared to the 2008 Road Traffic Law (which had 8 Chapters and 89 Articles). The 2024 Law builds upon provisions of the 2008 Law such as traffic rules; road vehicles; operators of road vehicles; road transport safety; and state management of road traffic order and safety. Additionally, it introduces numerous new provisions to address practical demands in Vietnam’s current road traffic sector. It is clear that the 2024 Law serves as the legal foundation to resolve urgent and practical issues concerning road traffic order and safety; it clearly defines state management responsibilities and law enforcement organization to ensure professionalism, avoid overlap, and create sustainable improvements in maintaining road traffic order and safety. At the same time, it facilitates citizens’ participation in traffic and simplifies administrative procedures.

Road Traffic Act 2024 in the US

The author compares the regulatory contents of the 2008 Road Traffic Law and the 2024 Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety to promptly update readers on the new provisions relative to the 2008 Law. These include added regulations on prohibited behaviors; requirements that vehicles transporting preschool children and students have warning devices to prevent children from being forgotten; regulations on auctioning license plates for motorcycles and motorbikes; revised classification of driving licenses; introduction of a 12-point driving license system with point deductions for violations; amendments concerning green and yellow traffic lights; and more. Moreover, the new content serves as a reference for investigators, prosecutors, and judges in handling cases related to road traffic. The comparison is presented in a two-column format: the 2008 Law on the left and the 2024 Law on the right, with new provisions in the 2024 Law highlighted in bold and italics. The author acknowledges the possibility of omissions in the research and comparison and welcomes feedback and contributions from colleagues and readers.