On the afternoon of January 16, in Hanoi, Lao Dong Newspaper organized a seminar: "The impact of traffic infrastructure on security, order and traffic safety". Many contents such as: Faulty traffic lights, high fines related to Decree 168 were explained by a representative of the Traffic Police Department (Ministry of Public Security).
In the early days of implementing Decree 168, there were many errors in the traffic light system, leading to congestion at many points, especially in the two big cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
When the traffic lights malfunction, all drivers stop, not daring to move for fear of being fined for running a red light.
Regarding traffic light incidents, Lieutenant Colonel Ta Thi Hong Minh - Deputy Head of the Department of Propaganda and Investigation, Traffic Accident Resolution, Traffic Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) affirmed that in cases of jumping lights (signal light errors), the authorities will certainly not punish such violations.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Ta Thi Hong Minh, traffic participants can rest assured about this issue. In handling traffic violations, especially red light violations, the authorities will not allow injustice to occur.
I agree with the above viewpoint, because with the fine for running a red light up to 18 - 20 million VND, it is necessary to consider each specific case. Punish those who intentionally violate, but consider reminding and instructing those who violate due to objective reasons. The law is strict but the purpose is not to punish, but to improve the level of traffic civilization.
In another reality, due to fear of running a red light, many drivers stop when the green light is still 4-5 seconds to "ensure safety". When changing from red to green, instead of driving immediately, many drivers wait a few seconds for the green light to "be sure". Because of this worry, the number of vehicles passing through the intersection is limited, leading to an increase in the number of vehicles waiting for the green light.
Regarding the situation of stopping when the green light is 5 seconds long, Lieutenant Colonel Ta Thi Hong Minh clearly explained that when the traffic light is 5 seconds long, people can drive normally. Only when they start approaching the stop line and see the yellow light turn on, do traffic participants have to stop before the line.
The law clearly defines violations, and knowing the rules will help you drive confidently, ensuring not only your own safety and convenience but also the safety of the community. Therefore, do not be afraid of being fined for running a red light to the point of stopping too early when there are still many seconds of green light and driving too late when the light has turned green.
