Directive No. 01/2004/CT-TTg on Rectifying Inter-Provincial Passenger Transport Activities by Motor Vehicles

DIRECTIVE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

On regulating inter-provincial passenger transport by motor vehicles

Implementing the Road Traffic Law and Decree No. 92/2002/NĐ-CP dated December 11, 2001 of the Government on conditions for operating passenger transport by motor vehicles, road transport activities in general and inter-provincial passenger transport by motor vehicles in particular have shown positive changes. The list of passenger transport routes and bus stations nationwide has been widely publicized. Passenger transport enterprises have invested many new, high-quality vehicles to replace old, damaged, and out-of-service ones, gradually improving service quality to meet the increasingly high travel needs of the people, which has been warmly welcomed and supported by public opinion.

However, there are still some issues in inter-provincial passenger transport: management of many bus stations is lax; some organizations and individuals set up unauthorized pick-up and drop-off points (illegal bus stops); many vehicles operate arbitrarily, picking up and dropping off passengers outside designated stations (illegal taxis). There are numerous instances of price fixing, customer poaching; selling passengers to other buses without their consent (selling passengers); overloading passengers who must stand or squeeze together with goods (overloading passengers); collusion between drivers and restaurants forcing passengers to eat expensive meals, insulting or even assaulting those who refuse (prison food); passenger buses transporting flammable and explosive materials, causing serious consequences and public dissatisfaction.

The causes of these issues are due to shortcomings in state management of transport and traffic safety at various levels; some ministries, sectors, and local authorities have relaxed management in inter-provincial passenger transport; they have not organized implementation and performed their state management functions according to current laws; inspection forces have not coordinated their activities closely and regularly, and have not strictly dealt with violations; propaganda, dissemination, and guidance on laws have not been adequately emphasized.

To maintain and promote achieved results, address existing issues, quickly restore order, and strengthen the effectiveness of state management in inter-provincial passenger transport by motor vehicles, the Prime Minister instructs ministers, chairpersons of provincial and centrally-run city People's Committees to focus on directing and implementing the following tasks:

1. The Ministry of Transport

a) Lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities in organizing and implementing measures to ensure safe transport:

Lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in formulating plans to regulate and restore order in inter-provincial passenger transport by motor vehicles and concentrate on directing implementation along National Highway 1 from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

Coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security in inspecting security and safety in transport.

Lead and coordinate with provincial and centrally-run city People's Committees:

Complete the project to determine rest stop positions for motor vehicles and passengers on national highways by 2004; pilot building some rest stops on National Highway 1 section from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to draw lessons, then expand them across the highway network.

Urgently complete the installation of signs for stopping and parking to pick up and drop off passengers on all national highways.

Closely coordinate with local authorities in planning and managing bus stations and rest stops; address the phenomenon of local protectionism in inter-provincial passenger transport activities.

b) Study and promptly amend and supplement regulatory documents on inter-provincial passenger transport to suit actual conditions; organize implementation and check compliance with these documents.

c) Strengthen and regulate the activities of traffic inspection forces to effectively perform inspection duties, handle violations by passenger transport enterprises, bus station operators, drivers, and attendants at static traffic points, and conduct surprise inspections at toll stations to promptly detect and deal with driver violations. Firmly deal with officials who fail to fulfill assigned tasks or engage in corrupt practices.

2. Ministry of Public Security

a) Direct police forces to rigorously inspect passenger transport activities by motor vehicles, paying special attention to the transportation of flammable and explosive materials; firmly and strictly punish according to the law any violations stipulated in Decree No. 15/2003/NĐ-CP dated February 19, 2003 of the Government regarding transport operations.

b) Organize inspections of the performance of police forces responsible for ensuring traffic order and safety; firmly and strictly deal with police officers and soldiers who fail to fulfill their tasks or engage in corrupt practices.

c) Coordinate with the Ministry of Transport in formulating and implementing plans to regulate and restore order in inter-provincial passenger transport by motor vehicles.

3. Ministry of Culture and Information

Direct information and propaganda work for cultural and artistic forms and mass media; lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and localities in disseminating and guiding traffic laws generally and specifically in inter-provincial passenger transport; promptly commend and publicize agencies, organizations, and individuals performing well and achieving good results; criticize agencies, organizations, and individuals with poor compliance.

4. The Ministry of Education and Training

a) Lead the development and implementation of specific tasks related to ideological education and strengthening traffic law awareness among students and trainees.

b) Coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and functional agencies to ensure traffic order and safety during exams and holidays for students and trainees.

5. Provincial and Centrally-Run City People's Committees

Direct and implement all necessary measures to restore order and traffic safety in the locality; coordinate with ministries and sectors in disseminating and guiding traffic laws; direct lower-level People's Committees to develop specific plans to ensure traffic order and safety in accordance with the law:

a) In 2004, announce the network planning for bus stations, ensuring that there are enough bus stations according to standards to meet the travel needs of passengers.

b) Implement effective measures in organizing and managing bus stations and services at rest stops on inter-provincial passenger transport routes within the province's jurisdiction, operating in accordance with legal regulations.

c) Strengthen and improve the organizational structure of management agencies for transportation activities at the local level towards becoming specialized agencies, allocating sufficient professional staff to ensure strict management of transportation activities.

d) Take inspection measures and resolutely handle strictly and in accordance with the law all violations related to the management of transportation activities, as well as the failure of officials and civil servants to fulfill their duties or engage in corrupt behavior in the management of inter-provincial passenger transport by automobile within the provincial territory, including in the issuance of business registration for passenger transport, leading to situations such as "illegal taxis," "unauthorized bus stops," "black market," price undercutting, "overloading," "selling off passengers," etc.

đ) Direct specialized agencies to organize training courses on passenger transportation management and regulations for units and individuals with relevant needs; continuously enhance the capabilities of units and individuals involved in passenger transportation work, gradually improving service quality.

6. For organizations and individuals participating in inter-provincial passenger transportation by automobile

Have the responsibility to educate drivers and attendants to strictly comply with the Road Traffic Law and related regulations when participating in traffic; strictly deal with violations by drivers under their authority.

The Ministry of Transport shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities related to establish a Steering Committee to manage and coordinate activities in implementing this Directive.

Fully implement this Directive, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Public Security, relevant ministries, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities must develop programs and plans to address specific issues, creating significant changes in rectifying and restoring order in inter-provincial passenger transportation by automobile.

Ministers of the Ministries of Transport, Public Security, Culture and Information, Education and Training, and Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities must report to the Prime Minister before February 15, 2004, on the implementation plan for this Directive./.