On July 8, a passenger bus traveling on the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet highway, when reaching Km220+100 in Ham Liem commune, had its rear wheel exploded.
The driver stopped the car on the lane because the road where the car was involved in an accident did not have an emergency stop strip. When the driver and the bus assistant got out to check, the passenger bus traveling in the same direction behind hit the back of the stopped passenger bus. The strong collision killed 3 people.
Accidents are not rare but common on this expressway. In just the first 9 months of 2024, there were 13 accidents on the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway, 9 deaths, and 8 injuries. In many cases, the cause of the vehicle breaking down was stopped in the lane, the rear vehicle hit the rear.
Not only the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet Expressway, expressways without emergency lanes often have similar accidents.
Regarding the accident that killed 3 people on the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet highway, the driver who caused the accident has been detained for investigation.
Most accidents occur on highways, mainly due to driver's errors, but other factors such as lack of lighting systems, surveillance cameras, especially no emergency lanes should be considered.
One thing everyone must admit is that if there is an emergency lane for drivers to stop when needed, accidents will be limited. For sections of road without emergency lanes and lighting, the risk of accidents is even higher.
The expressway does not have an emergency lane, in addition to the risk of accidents, there are other situations such as traffic jams. If an incident occurs, vehicles will be congested, rescue vehicles and ambulances will have no way to approach the scene.
At the end of March 2025, the Ministry of Construction proposed that the Government consider investing in expanding the 1,144 km North - South expressway, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, to six lanes, with a total investment of VND 152,135 billion. Of course, expanding the expressway requires an emergency lane.
Expanding the expressway requires time, first of all, it is necessary to increase lighting systems and surveillance cameras on expressway sections that are not fully equipped to support management and limit traffic accidents.
