A traffic incident occurred at 13h as a pickup truck traveled at a moderate speed on an empty road. From dozens of meters away, a traffic police officer stepped out and raised a hand, signaling the vehicle to stop. The pickup driver unexpectedly swerved sharply to the left, drove onto the sidewalk, and then made a u-turn to go in the opposite direction.

A vehicle equipped with a dashcam was following closely behind the pickup truck, seemingly preparing to overtake. The pickup's abrupt u-turn nearly caused a collision. Fortunately, the dashcam driver managed to stop in time.

Regardless of the reason, drivers must signal when changing direction and only proceed when it is safe. Sudden maneuvers, like the pickup driver's, pose a risk to both the driver and other road users.

Crucially, drivers are obligated to comply with traffic police signals and should not turn around and flee, as seen with the pickup driver in the video. Fleeing when traffic police (CSGT) request a stop is considered non-compliance with the instructions of a traffic controller. According to Decree 168/2024, such an act carries a fine of 18-20 million VND and a deduction of 4 points from the driver's license. If the act of fleeing is aggressive, causes an accident, or resists public officials, the driver may face not only monetary penalties but also criminal prosecution.

For drivers following behind, if a vehicle ahead shows unusual signs, such as driving slowly on an empty road or moving close to the right curb before shifting back to the center, it is essential to maintain a safe distance to anticipate any unexpected situations.

Nguyen Vu