On the last day of the holiday before the new work year began, two concurrent news reports left me bewildered: an 11-car pile-up on the La Son - Hoa Lien expressway and a 7-car pile-up on the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway. These incidents frequently occur whenever expressway traffic increases during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year).

Once again, most opinions suggest that multi-vehicle accidents are more common on expressways, often making the roads the default "defendant". However, most multi-vehicle accidents stem from driver behavior, not the expressways themselves.

Scene of the accident on the La Son - Hoa Lien expressway. *Photo: Hoang Lich*

Expressways are designed for fast, continuous vehicle movement with minimal intersections, aiming to reduce traffic conflicts compared to national highways or urban roads. High speed is not inherently dangerous if drivers understand and adhere to expressway driving principles. The issue arises when many drivers bring their city or national highway driving habits to expressways without adjusting their mindset, skills, and situational awareness.

The most common causes of multi-vehicle accidents on expressways are failing to control speed and not maintaining a safe distance. Many drivers misunderstand safe speed, assuming that merely not exceeding the maximum limit is sufficient. They often forget that safe speed also depends on traffic density, visibility, weather, and their own reaction time. When a vehicle ahead suddenly slows, a moment of distraction and insufficient distance can cause a collision, leading to a chain reaction for following vehicles.

Safe following distance on expressways is often underestimated. Many drivers entering expressways still do not understand the meaning of safe distance markers at 0m, 100m, and 200m. It is common to see cars tailgating at speeds of 90-100 km/h, even sticking closer during traffic jams or in congested areas. Under such conditions, if one car brakes suddenly due to an obstacle, debris on the road, or simply an overreaction, a multi-vehicle accident is almost inevitable. Expressways do not tolerate minor errors, as the time and distance available for reaction at high speeds are very limited.

A lack of expressway driving experience is another concern. Many new drivers, or those who rarely travel long distances, are unfamiliar with long-range observation, early situation assessment, and anticipating other vehicles' behavior. Habits like sudden braking, abrupt steering, or unexpected deceleration in the fast lane are deadly "traps" on expressways. Many accidents originate from seemingly minor actions: indecisive lane changes, slowing down to answer a phone call, or panicking when encountering a problem ahead.

Expressway accidents are often more severe, not because expressways are inherently more dangerous, but because vehicles collide at much higher speeds. A collision at 100 km/h can result in consequences many times greater than an urban accident. Therefore, every driver error comes at a higher cost. When serious consequences occur, public opinion often focuses on the road, while the core cause remains the driver's skill and awareness.

Notably, after each multi-vehicle accident, lessons learned are often quickly forgotten. Expressways continue to be crowded, speeds remain high, and habits like tailgating, driving slowly in the left lane, or lacking observation persist. Investing in infrastructure, signs, and surveillance cameras is necessary but cannot replace individual awareness. No expressway can be safe if drivers disregard safe distances, appropriate speeds, and basic driving principles.

While it is acknowledged that many expressway sections in Vietnam are not designed logically or according to proper standards, the focus should shift from blaming the roads to re-evaluating the high-speed driving skills of many Vietnamese drivers. Driver training needs to emphasize expressway skills, including maintaining distance, long-range observation, and handling emergency situations. Drivers must also adopt a risk prevention mindset, viewing each expressway trip as a journey requiring higher discipline.

Reader Vu Vu