Directive No. 317/1999/CT-BGTVT on rectifying passenger road transport activities and organizing bus station management

DIRECTIVE

On regulating passenger road transport activities

and organizing management of bus stations

In the years implementing the renewal process, one of the significant achievements of the transportation industry has been gradually meeting the cargo transport demands of the national economy and the travel needs of the people. Currently, the travel requirements of people at all places and times are basically met, depending on the passengers' needs, although the quality of service may still vary.

Alongside these significant achievements, the management of passenger transport activities as well as the organization of bus station management (bus stations) still has many shortcomings, leading to phenomena such as vehicles running in circles, not picking up or dropping off passengers at bus stations, overloading passengers, passengers being coerced, and "selling" tickets along the way. Some parking areas have become pick-up and drop-off points like bus stations, forming illegal "umbrella stations," causing public dissatisfaction and disrupting transport order, creating conditions for other negative phenomena. Safety and security on some passenger buses are not guaranteed due to gambling, illegal betting, theft, and even criminal activities using weapons on certain routes, causing panic among passengers. Many negative activities have been eliminated but have not yet ensured stable passenger psychology.

To ensure safety for passengers traveling on inter-provincial passenger transport routes, restore transport order, comply with the law, and create favorable conditions for enterprises and vehicle owners to operate effectively, on March 24, 1999, the Minister of Transport issued Decisions No. 727/1999/QĐ-BGTVT on announcing the first batch of current national inter-provincial passenger transport routes via road transport, Decision No. 729/1999/QĐ-BGTVT on regulations regarding the organization and management of passenger transport activities through contractual methods, Decision No. 730/1999/QĐ-BGTVT on regulations regarding the organization and management of passenger bus stations, and on April 12, 1999, Decision No. 890/1999/QĐ-BGTVT on standards for inter-provincial passenger buses.

To implement the issued documents effectively, protect the rights and legitimate interests of passengers and passenger transport operators, the Minister of Transport instructs the Director of the Vietnam Road Administration, the Director of the Vietnam Vehicle Registration Agency, and the Directors of provincial Transport Departments to organize the following tasks:

1- The Vietnam Road Administration and the Vietnam Vehicle Registration Agency shall take the lead and coordinate with provincial Transport Departments to direct and inspect the implementation by transport enterprises, vehicles, and vehicle drivers, especially passenger bus drivers. Through issuing various types of licenses, they should grasp the quantity and quality of vehicles, understand the transport market, and propose policies to regulate supply and demand. Enterprises must always inspect, educate, and remind drivers to comply with traffic laws (especially not speeding or reckless overtaking, particularly on winding roads, mountain roads, under-construction roads without sufficient signs, and newly completed roads), and not assign vehicles to those without valid driver's licenses.

Inspect the driver's license of the driver (including substitute drivers) and their qualifications, and regularly remind and correct them. Enterprise owners must maintain records of safe driving hours for each driver to encourage and address issues promptly.

Based on the passenger transport routes announced by the Ministry, direct relevant units to pilot several model routes "high-quality passenger transport" on existing routes, aiming to improve service quality for passengers and contribute to restoring transport order.

2- Provincial Transport Departments:

- Study the network of intra-provincial passenger transport within their jurisdiction, coordinate with related provincial Transport Departments to agree and arrange sufficient vehicles on each adjacent route, avoiding unorganized competition, gradually reducing and eventually eliminating the phenomenon of "umbrella stations" and circular runs to pick up passengers on fixed inter-provincial passenger transport routes, and the situation of lowering fares and reducing service quality.

- Direct traffic inspectors to cooperate with traffic police and local authorities to handle firmly and decisively the phenomenon of selling tickets along the way and picking up passengers outside bus stations (except at points approved by the provincial People's Committee). Violations will be dealt with according to administrative penalties prescribed by law, combined with suspending or revoking transport permits and driver's licenses for three months, six months, or one year, and in special cases, confiscating licenses. For vehicles from neighboring provinces, after handling, inform and send files to the provincial Transport Department of the neighboring province for further action.

Passenger buses operating under full-package contractual methods are strictly prohibited from competing with vehicles operating on fixed routes, and are only allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at the agreed locations in writing or as specified by the provincial People's Committee.

Strictly prohibit contractual vehicles from running in circles to pick up passengers, operating without contracts or specific itineraries, picking up passengers around bus station areas, or establishing fake or empty contracts.

- Prepare reports or plans and solutions to submit to the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city regarding the current status of parking lots for passenger pick-up and drop-off, including unauthorized bus stops ("informal bus stops"), to seek guidance. For parking lots that meet travel demand, do not violate urban planning, and ensure basic site conditions, they may be proposed for legalization according to the current procedures. This work needs to be carried out carefully, based on scientific calculations about laws, travel requirements, without allowing the proliferation of informal bus stops, which would lead to waste. Informal parking lots must be penalized administratively and may also have their operating licenses suspended or revoked. Approved pick-up and drop-off points should be publicly announced so that drivers and the public are aware.

- Direct the mobilization of funds for the renovation and upgrading of bus stations in accordance with legal regulations and ensuring democracy and transparency, with appropriate and solid steps. For stations that do not meet the required conditions and standards, plans for repairs, renovations, and upgrades should be made.

- Improve management at bus stations for those that are already enterprises in the direction of administrative reform, reducing inconvenience for drivers and vehicle owners operating within the station for pick-up and drop-off. Ensure fair negotiations among vehicle owners running on the same route, proper scheduling, and rotation to maintain fairness. Before issuing departure orders, check luggage and cargo loading, and minimum safety conditions. Vehicles not entering the station shall not be issued transport permits again.

- For stations that are not enterprises, the Department of Transport should seek additional guidance from the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city, proceed according to the current legal regulations, while ensuring state management over transportation activities at the station, treating all economic sectors equally. Allow transportation enterprises to choose bus stations for pick-up and drop-off if it aligns with travel patterns, avoiding overlapping and overloading at certain stations. Only allow the establishment of bus stations within the planning framework (if no adjustment procedures are needed), meeting the necessary conditions and standards. For stations that do not meet these conditions and standards, plans for supplementation, repairs, renovations, or upgrades should be made.

- Report to the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city on the provincial and inter-provincial passenger transport routes within the locality that still lack order and security to direct local authorities, police, traffic officers to cooperate in resolving problems on vehicles, overloading causing vehicle safety issues, and drivers selling passengers along the way. Gradually address the problem of touts, porters, and soliciting passengers at bus stations and approved pick-up and drop-off points, ensuring passenger safety. In serious cases, collect full information and report to the Ministry of Public Security for assistance in prevention and handling.

3- The Association of Motor Vehicle Transport has the responsibility to coordinate and guide members to comply with state regulations, find solutions to overcome difficulties, including inspection and supervision, to protect the legitimate rights and interests of members and achieve high business results and gradually improve service quality for passengers.

4- The Ministry of Transport requests the Ministry of Public Security and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities to direct traffic police forces, public order forces, and local authorities to closely cooperate with Departments of Transport, traffic inspectors, transportation enterprises, and bus stations to ensure the effective implementation of regulatory documents, limit and gradually reduce negative phenomena. Cooperate in properly and strictly dealing with violations of road traffic order and safety and urban traffic order and safety.

Require the Directors of the Vietnam Highway Administration, Vietnam Inspection Agency, and the Directors of the Departments of Transport to promptly organize the implementation of the tasks outlined in this Directive.

During the implementation process, if there are difficulties, timely report them to the Ministry of Transport for research and resolution.