The draft Decree regulating administrative sanctions for violations of traffic order and safety in the field of road traffic; deduction of points and restoration of points on driving licenses stipulates:
A fine of VND 800,000 to VND 1,000,000 shall be imposed on a driver who commits one of the following violations: The driver uses an umbrella, audio equipment (except hearing aids), handles and uses a phone or other electronic devices.
In addition to being fined, the driver who commits the violation will also have 2 points deducted from his/her driver's license.
Thus, compared to current regulations, the draft decree loosens the regulations on motorbike drivers using mobile phones. According to current regulations, motorbike drivers who use mobile phones will be fined and have their driving license revoked. However, according to the new draft, motorbike drivers will be fined if they use their phones with their hands. This violation will only result in a deduction of 2 points from the driver's license.
Therefore, motorbike drivers, including technology-based motorbike taxi drivers, who only use their phones to look up Maps (without using their hands) may not be fined according to the new draft, expected to take effect from January 1, 2025.
Many readers sent additional feedback and comments on the above draft regulations.
Accordingly, reader Nguyen Van Hoang posed a situation: I see that driving a car with closed windows, playing music and using a phone is more dangerous than driving a motorbike using a phone. Will I be fined?
Some readers expressed that a phone mounted on a car is no different from a rearview mirror. If you are on the road and use your hand to adjust or operate your phone for more than 10 seconds without looking at the road, it is dangerous.
Answering readers' questions, lawyer Nguyen Tinh, Deputy Head of Tinh Hoa Viet Law Office, said that Point a, Clause 4, Article 7 of the draft Decree stipulates administrative penalties for violations of traffic order and safety in the field of road traffic; deduction of points, restoration of points on driving licenses as follows: Drivers of cars and similar vehicles will be fined from VND 2,000,000 to VND 3,000,000 for the act of holding and using a phone or other electronic devices while driving a vehicle on the road. This person will also be fined an additional 2 points on the driving license.
The draft proposes a fine of VND800,000 to VND1,000,000 for drivers who commit one of the following violations: Using an umbrella, audio equipment (except hearing aids), holding a phone or other electronic devices while driving. In addition to the fine, the driver who commits the violation will also have 2 points deducted from his/her driving license.
Thus, using a phone while driving a motorbike or car with your hands can be punished according to the new draft. Using a phone while driving a motorbike with your hands can be fined up to 1 million VND, while driving a car can be fined up to 3 million VND.
