This incident was recorded by traffic police patrolling the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway at midnight on 22/3. The night was pitch-black, and a black car was parked on the emergency shoulder without flashing lights, a warning triangle, or traffic cones behind it. When traffic police approached with their lights, the driver was still fast asleep.

Authorities fined the driver for stopping and parking on the expressway, with a penalty of 12-14 million dong (typically 13 million dong), and deducted 6 points from their driver's license.

Drivers are only permitted to stop or park on expressways if their vehicle breaks down and cannot move, or if they experience a health emergency. If a stop is necessary, drivers should try to move their vehicle into the emergency lane, or the emergency shoulder on roads without a dedicated emergency lane.

Regulations state that when parking on the emergency lane, drivers must turn on their emergency lights. If parking on the main carriageway, in addition to emergency lights, warning signs such as reflective triangles or traffic cones must be placed at least 150 m behind the vehicle.

Drivers must ensure they are well-rested before driving on an expressway, as it is not a place where one can arbitrarily stop to sleep. If one's health is not adequate, the best approach is to rest before traveling, or choose a national highway route where convenient rest stops can be found.

Nguyen Vu