smbet Vietnam to reward traffic offender snitches
Vehicles wait at a red light at an intersection in Hanoi on January 8, 2025. Agence France-Presse
HANOI — Vietnam is to pay residents who snitch on traffic offenders up to five million dong ($200) as the Southeast Asian country strives to bring rule-breaking drivers into line on its notoriously chaotic roads.
Since the beginning of the year, authorities have dramatically upped the fines — to an almost unaffordable level for the average driver — for traffic violations including running a red light and using a mobile phone.
Article continues after this advertisementUnder the new rules, anyone who reports a verified traffic offense in Vietnam — a one-party Communist state — can now bag up to 10 percent of fines levied, up to a ceiling of five million dong.
FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION 22 S. Korea hospitals refuse care for woman whose heart stopped GLOBALNATION P29 brings high-quality rice to 35M poor Filipinos GLOBALNATION Two bodies found in airliner landing gear in FloridaREAD: ‘Finally, we made it!’: Ho Chi Minh City celebrates first metro
The identities of informants will be kept confidential “to ensure their privacy”, the law said.
Article continues after this advertisementNo one has so far been rewarded, according to state media, who cited police.
Article continues after this advertisementIn a country where the average monthly income is around 7.7 million dong, running a red light with a motorbike now costs more than six million dong, six times the previous figure.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Vietnam’s capital to ban motorbikes by 2030
If a car driver does the same, it will set them back them close to 20 million dong, up from six million dong.
Article continues after this advertisementFines have also doubled for using a mobile phone behind the wheel.
“I was shocked by the fine levels,” said Grab bike driver Nguyen Quoc Phong, who confessed he regularly ran red lights in the capital Hanoi.
Comments from top Federal Reserve officials suggesting they would like to see a slower pace of rate cuts tempered hopes for another bumper cut at the bank’s next meeting, while Middle East worries pushed gold to a new record.
In a statement on Monday, GSIS said the transport hub dubbed as ‘Project Hub’, will be located at the corner of the Elliptical Road and Commonwealth Avenue.
“I am scared now. I have started to obey the rules strictly,” Phong told AFP, adding that he hated the idea of being filmed and reported to police by a fellow Hanoian.
One police officer in Hanoi told AFP he had seen several drivers break down in tears when handed a fine.
Around 77 million motorbikes and 6.3 million cars rule Vietnam’s roads, official statistics showed.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
In 2024smbet, road accidents claimed 30 lives a day, while traffic — particularly in major cities — is horrendously slow as drivers move with little regard for traffic lights or road signs and rules.
READ NEXT India fears China may use Tibet hydropower dam to flood border... DA bans import of birds, poultry products from New Zealand EDITORS' PICK Is the world ready for the next pandemic? 9 China Coast Guard vessels patrolling PH EEZ – US maritime expert Rufa Mae Quinto in NBI custody amid arrest warrant over SEC complaint Sofronio Vasquez sings Bongbong Marcos’ favorites during courtesy call Crowds building up for ‘Pahalik’ on the eve of Nazarene procession Yes, you can pair sake with pizza, cheese, pasta, and Filipino food MOST READ LIVE UPDATES: Feast of the Jesus Nazareno Vic Sotto set to file case vs 'maker of Pepsi Paloma trailer' Isko Moreno surges ahead of Lacuna and Verzosa in mayoral polls Dina Bonnevie in grief over death of husband DV Savellano Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments
