The traffic situation on the Hanoi - Hai Phong expressway was congested on the last day of the holiday, with vehicles moving slowly. A black Toyota SUV and a silver Mercedes sedan were seen driving slowly side-by-side. Suddenly, the SUV cut in front of the sedan and stopped. The driver of the black SUV then exited his vehicle and approached the silver sedan to argue.

The SUV's sudden stop nearly caused the dashcam-equipped vehicle behind it to collide with the silver sedan. Fortunately, other drivers maintained their speed and safe distances, preventing an accident. After about ten seconds of an exchange of words, the SUV driver returned to his vehicle and drove away.

Stopping a vehicle in the middle of an expressway to argue, especially when agitated, can lead to serious consequences. At a maximum speed of 120 km/h, vehicles require significant braking distance, and drivers find it difficult to assess sudden situations. This can lead to catastrophic multi-vehicle pile-ups.

In 7/2024, a minor collision on the same Hanoi - Hai Phong expressway led two drivers to stop their vehicles in the lane next to the median to argue for 3 minutes. An SUV approaching from behind was unable to brake in time and crashed directly into the scene, resulting in two fatalities, two people with broken femurs, and 4 individuals requiring hospital observation.

Even without an accident, drivers who improperly stop or park on an expressway are likely to be fined. According to Decree 168/2024, this violation incurs a fine of 12-14 million VND and a 6-point deduction from the driver's license. If improper stopping causes a traffic accident, the fine increases to 20-22 million VND, with a 10-point deduction from the driver's license.

Nguyen Vu