Decision No. 42/2005/QD-BGTVT on speed limits and distances between motor vehicles operating on roads

DECISION OF THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

Issuing regulations on speed and distance

between motor vehicles traveling on roads

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION

WHEREAS, the Road Traffic Law dated June 29, 2001;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 34/2003/NĐ-CP dated April 4, 2003 on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

Pursuant to Decree No. 72/2001/NĐ-CP dated October 5, 2001 of the Government on the classification of cities and urban management levels;

Pursuant to the proposal of the Director of the Vietnam Road Administration Department, the Director of the Transport Department, and the Director of the Legal Affairs Department,

DECISION:

Article 1. This Decision promulgates the "Regulations on Speed and Distance Between Motor Vehicles Traveling on Roads."

Article 2. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette and shall replace Decision No. 17/2004/QĐ-BGTVT dated September 30, 2004 of the Minister of Transport.

Article 3. The Heads of the Office, the Directors of the Transport Department, the Director of the Vietnam Road Administration Department, the Directors of the Departments of Transport and Public Works of the provinces and centrally administered cities, the Heads of agencies and units, and individuals concerned are responsible for implementing this Decision./.

REGULATIONS

ON SPEED AND DISTANCE BETWEEN MOTOR VEHICLES
TRAVELING ON ROADS

(Issued together with Decision No. 42/2005/QĐ-BGTVT dated September 16

2005 of the Minister of Transport)

This technical regulation sets out technical requirements, testing methods, sampling procedures; management requirements; responsibilities of organizations and individuals producing, trading, and importing cigarettes.

Article 1. These provisions regulate the speed and distance between various types of motor vehicles traveling on roads.

Article 2. Drivers of motor vehicles participating in road traffic must strictly comply with the speed and distance regulations indicated on traffic signs. In places without signs, drivers must adhere to specific regulations set forth in these provisions.

Article 3. Drivers must control their vehicles at speeds and distances appropriate to the conditions of the road, traffic density, weather, vehicle condition, and their own health.

Article 4. It is strictly prohibited for drivers to follow closely behind emergency service vehicles performing urgent tasks.

II. SPEED OF MOTOR VEHICLES TRAVELING ON ROADS

Article 5. Drivers must reduce speed to a safe level (able to stop safely) in the following situations:

1. When there is a speed limit sign, warning sign, or obstacles on the road;

2. When visibility is limited;

3. At intersections, where roads cross railways, roundabouts, rough, slippery, sandy, or dusty sections;

4. On bridges, culverts; when approaching the top of a hill, descending a hill;

5. Near schools, crowded areas, densely populated areas, areas with houses close to the road, construction sites;

6. When passing through groups of pedestrians;

7. When animals are on or near the road;

8. When overtaking vehicles coming from the opposite direction or after allowing a following vehicle to pass;

9. Approaching bus stops or tram stops where passengers are boarding or alighting;

10. When encountering convoys of priority vehicles;

11. When encountering overloaded or oversized vehicles traveling in the opposite direction on roads without median strips;

12. When changing lanes.

Article 6. While driving on the road, if there are no obstacles ahead or mandatory conditions that limit speed, drivers may not drive at a speed that impedes other vehicles.

Article 7. On urban and city streets, if there is no "Maximum Speed Allowed" sign, under normal dry road and weather conditions, drivers may not exceed the maximum speed specified in Table 1.

Table 1. Maximum speed allowed for motor vehicles traveling on urban and city streets

circulating within urban areas

Under abnormal weather conditions (rain, wet and slippery roads, fog), drivers must operate vehicles at a suitable speed lower than the maximum speed specified in Table 1.

Article 8. On suburban and rural roads outside urban areas, except expressways, if there is no "Maximum Speed Allowed" sign, under normal dry road and weather conditions, drivers may not exceed the maximum speed specified in Table 2.

Table 2: Maximum speed allowed for motor vehicles traveling on suburban and rural roads outside urban areas
on suburban and rural roads

Under abnormal weather conditions (rain, wet and slippery roads, fog), mountainous terrain, drivers must operate vehicles at a suitable speed lower than the maximum speed specified in Table 2.

Article 9. Speed of motor vehicles traveling on National Highway through urban and city areas:

1. On sections of National Highway through urban and city areas with a design scale of four lanes or more, with a central median strip, if there is no "Maximum Speed Allowed" sign, under normal dry road and weather conditions, drivers may not exceed the maximum speed specified in Table 3.

Table 3. Maximum speed allowed for motor vehicles traveling on sections of National Highway through urban and city areas
with a design scale of four lanes or more, with a central median strip
with four lanes or more for motor vehicles, having a median strip

2. On sections of National Highway within the administrative boundaries of urban and city areas but not yet urbanized, with clear sightlines and sparse population along the roadside, or newly constructed sections to bypass city centers (hereinafter referred to as bypass sections), the maximum speed allowed for suburban and rural roads outside urban areas specified in Table 2 shall apply. The Vietnam Road Administration Department shall coordinate with the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally administered cities based on the actual conditions of each specific city to guide the placement of "Maximum Speed Allowed" signs on these sections of National Highway (excluding bypass sections).

Article 10. In areas where there is a sign indicating the "maximum permitted speed," except for expressways where the number on the sign is greater than the maximum speed specified in Table 1 of Article 7, Table 2 of Article 8, and Table 3 of Article 9 of these Regulations, the driver shall only operate the vehicle at the maximum speed specified in those Tables.

Article 11. The maximum speed of travel on roads for vehicles such as tractors, farm trucks, lam cars, horse-drawn carriages with engines, motorized rickshaws, three-wheeled motorized carts, and other types of vehicles currently permitted to operate within the jurisdiction of the provincial People's Committee or the municipal People's Committee directly under the Central Government shall not exceed 30 km/h.

III. SPEED AND DISTANCE BETWEEN MOTOR VEHICLES
TRAVELING ON EXPRESSWAYS

Article 12. When operating a vehicle on an expressway, the driver shall not control the vehicle to run above the maximum permitted speed or below the minimum speed specified for each road and lane as indicated on the sign or painted on the road surface.

Article 13. On expressway lanes, except for entry and exit lanes, the driver must always maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. When the road surface is dry, the safe distance corresponding to the speed specified in Table 4 applies.

Table 4. Minimum safe distance between motor vehicles traveling on roads

Safe distance minimum (m)

Article 14. The Vietnam Highway Administration is responsible for guiding traffic management agencies in implementing these Regulations.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

Article 15. Traffic management agencies are responsible for regularly inspecting and installing all speed and distance signs, especially the "Start of High Population Density Area" or "End of High Population Density Area" signs as stipulated in the Road Sign Regulations.

Article 16. During implementation, if any issues arise, traffic management units, Departments of Transport, Departments of Transportation and Public Works, and traffic control forces shall promptly report to the Ministry of Transport for consideration and resolution./.

Article 16. During implementation, if any issues arise, the road management units, Departments of Transport, Departments of Public Works, and traffic control forces shall promptly report to the Ministry of Transport for consideration and resolution./.