According to Decree No. 151/2024/ND-CP of the Government, commercial vehicles used to transport preschool children and students at Point a, Clause 1, Article 46 of the Law on Road Traffic Safety and Order must be painted dark yellow on the outside of the vehicle; the front and two sides of the vehicle above the windows must have signs identifying them as vehicles specifically used to transport preschool children and students.
Along with that, the cars used for transportation combined with the activities of picking up and dropping off preschool children and students as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 46 of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, although not painted in dark yellow, the front and two sides of the car above the windows must have signs identifying them as vehicles specialized in transporting preschool children and students.
Sharing his opinion on this issue, Mr. Nguyen Phong - currently a driver picking up and dropping off students at an elementary school in Cau Giay district, Hanoi, said that it is necessary to have separate color regulations for vehicles transporting students.
"School buses face many difficulties when traveling because they often operate during rush hours. Many private vehicles even do not comply with traffic laws and deliberately crowd the road, causing school buses to take a long time to travel.
Traveling on the road for too long will directly affect the health of students, especially preschool students. Therefore, having additional identification signs such as distinct colors and identification signs will be very helpful in picking up and dropping off students" - Mr. Phong shared.
Driver Nguyen Phong also said that repainting the entire vehicle requires clear regulations on standard color codes before painting so that schools can implement it consistently. This will reduce cases of yellow paint but with different shades, causing confusion as well as affecting the recognition of traffic participants.
Regarding this issue, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thuy - traffic expert (former Director - Editor-in-Chief of Transport Publishing House) said that the regulation of dark yellow covering the outside of school buses has been effectively implemented in other countries.
"According to many studies on the history of the development of school buses in countries around the world, the dark yellow color has a strong impact on human vision. From there, it increases the ability to recognize this vehicle even in weather conditions such as fog, rain, or darkness. This helps prevent accidents for school buses, so it has been applied by many countries for a long time" - Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thuy informed.
Sharing with Lao Dong, Lawyer Luong Huy Ha - Director of Lawkey Law Firm said that, in addition to regulations on color or identification plates, vehicles used for transporting preschool children and students must ensure the conditions specified in Clause 1 and Clause 2, Article 35 of the Law on Traffic Safety and Order.
Vehicles transporting preschool children and students must have equipment to record images of preschool children and students and equipment with warning functions to prevent children from being left behind in the vehicle; have a usage period of no more than 20 years; and have paint colors according to Government regulations...
