Recently, reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper have continuously received feedback from people in Ha Long City about the situation of the traffic light system at Ao Ca intersection operating unsynchronizedly, causing confusion for traffic participants - especially in the context of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP that has just taken effect since January 1, 2025.
After a long period of inactivity, the traffic light system in this area has just been repaired and put back into operation since the beginning of 2025. However, there are only main traffic lights (red, yellow, blue) in two directions: Uong Bi - Ha Long and Cai Dam - Gieng Day. The remaining two directions, Ha Long - Uong Bi and Gieng Day - Cai Dam, only use side lights in the shape of an arrow, making it difficult for many vehicles to move.
Present at Ao Ca intersection from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on April 19, the reporter witnessed many drivers running red lights, then having to reverse the car in the middle of the intersection.
Mr. Nguyen Hong Thuy, a taxi driver in Bai Chay ward (Ha Long city), shared: "I often wait for customers here, so I have witnessed many cases of vehicles from Ha Long to Uong Bi running over the lights and then reversing. The traffic light is a red and blue arrow, located nearly 100m away, and there is no counter to count the reverse, the sunlight is very difficult to see at noon, just like a puzzlement in the eyes of traffic participants. Not to mention, if you go behind a truck, you cannot see this traffic light".
It is known that the traffic light system at Ao Ca intersection and many intersections on National Highway 18 and National Highway 279 under the Smart Traffic Management and Operation Project Management Project is invested by the Quang Ninh Provincial Civil and Industrial Construction Investment Project Management Board.
The project has a total investment of about 160 billion VND, with 16 lighting systems.
Although it was granted a construction permit by the provincial Department of Transport in 2019, the project has not yet been handed over and officially put into use. Faced with this situation, the Department of Transport has reported to the Provincial People's Committee to have an investment and upgrade plan to ensure traffic safety at key intersections.
According to Decree 168/2024/ND-CP, from January 1, 2025, car drivers who do not comply with traffic lights will be fined from 18 to 20 million VND. However, in the current situation of inadequate lighting systems, many drivers passing through this intersection are very confused.
Ao Ca intersection is one of the important gateway intersections of Ha Long City, with a high density of traffic. This is also an area that often experiences traffic conflicts, posing a high risk of accidents.
According to statistics from the Traffic Police Department of Quang Ninh Provincial Police, from the beginning of 2024 to now, there have been 2 serious accidents here, causing 2 deaths. Most recently, at around 9:45 a.m. on April 1, 2025, a motorbike driven by Ms. D.X.Th (born in 1965, residing in Zone 5, Gieng Day Ward) from Bai Chay Hospital to Ao Ca intersection collided with a truck driven by Mr. N.M.C (born in 1972, residing in Mao Khe Ward, Dong Trieu City) in the same direction. As a result, Ms. Th. died on the spot, and her motorbike was severely damaged.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Khanh Toan - Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Department of Quang Ninh Provincial Police - said: "Previously, this intersection was small in scale, but now it has been expanded, so the traffic light system is no longer suitable. The signal light system at Ao Ca intersection is currently a double-phase light. During rush hour, if there are no direct traffic police to regulate, congestion can easily occur.
In recent years, the unit has repeatedly coordinated with Ha Long City, sent a document to the Department of Transport (now the Department of Construction) and the Provincial Traffic Safety Office for survey and proposal to overcome shortcomings. The Traffic Police Department proposed to upgrade to the 3 -phase or 4 -phase lighting system to suit the reality. ”
