Not only the responsibility of the police
According to regulations, people aged 16 and over are only allowed to drive motorbikes under 50cc and from 18 years old and above, with a new driving license, are allowed to drive motorbikes and motorbikes over 50cc. However, in reality, many students in Hanoi still violate the law.
In front of many high schools, it is not difficult to see students riding large-displacement motorbikes and manual motorbikes. To avoid the school's inspection, the students parked their vehicles in the parking lot outside. Nguyen Tri Long - an 11th grade student at a high school in Tu Liem - said: "Because my house is far away, my parents bought me a 110cc Wave to go to school. The school banned it, so I had to park my car outside."
Many parents also admit to "assisting". Ms. Nguyen Thu Phuong said that 50cc motorbikes are "too small" compared to the current physical condition of students because many children who are just in grade 10-11 are over 1.7m tall and weigh over 80kg, so they should be allowed to ride over 100cc even though they know they are violating the law.
Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang (Cau Giay) initially bought an electric bicycle for her child, but because her child complained of being slow, she later gave him the family's motorbike.
Lieutenant Colonel Ta Xuan Hau (officer of Road Traffic Police Team No. 1, Traffic Police Department, Hanoi City Police) said that the authorities regularly check but there are still many cases of underage students who do not wear helmets, run red lights, or go in the wrong direction. Worryingly, some parents are not exemplary, willing to give their children " premature" vehicles or do not wear helmets when carrying their children.
The Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024 (effective from January 1, 2025) stipulates that people who are only 16 years old are allowed to drive a 50cc vehicle, and those who are 18 years old or older are granted an A1 driving license or higher. However, in reality, there are still cases of law evasion.
Mr. Nguyen Cao Tai - Vice Principal of Van Noi High School - said that the students had signed a commitment not to violate, but the students who took a large-displacement vehicle to school still parked their vehicles in the outside yard to deal with it.
Since September 12, Hanoi City Police have opened a peak period of inspection and handling of violations related to students and parents. Colonel Tran Dinh Nghia - Head of the Traffic Police Department of Hanoi Police, warned that high school students who lack experience and lack concentration can easily lead to accidents when driving large-displacement motorbikes. "Not only students but also their families and schools were affected when the incident occurred" - Colonel Tran Dinh Nghia emphasized.
The need for family and social cooperation
Ensuring traffic safety for students cannot rely solely on fines. The family must be determined not to give their children vehicles when they are not old enough or do not have a driver's license. Schools need to increase reminders and integrate traffic law education, considering this a criterion for assessing students' awareness. Local organizations and authorities must coordinate to monitor and handle the situation promptly.
Experts say that short-term propaganda campaigns only create immediate results. To be sustainable, there needs to be regular monitoring. Ward police and part-time forces need to be on duty at school gates during rush hour to record, coordinate with schools to verify and invite parents to work when there are violations.
At an early age, students lack experience and are not fully aware of the level of danger. When parents hand over large-displacement vehicles, it means putting their children at high risk. Therefore, it is necessary to take strong action against not only students but also parents and vehicle parking lots to help violations.
