Around 3:50 p.m. on 4/4, at the North-South railway crossing near Nhi Chau pagoda in Ngoc Hoi commune, Ha Noi, a man on a motorcycle attempted to cross the tracks despite the barrier being lowered. Several vehicles were stopped behind him, waiting for the train.
The man was operating his motorcycle while talking on his phone. As his front wheel cleared the tracks, train SE8, pulled by locomotive 948 with 14 carriages, approached and struck the rear of his vehicle. This caused the motorcycle to spin, and the man fell to the ground.
After the collision, the man left the scene on his own. Train SE8 had to stop briefly in the Thuong Tin - Van Dien section for inspection before continuing its journey.
Recently, the North-South railway line passing through Ha Noi has seen a series of accidents, primarily due to drivers deliberately bypassing barriers.
Previously, on the evening of 25/2, a container truck was struck by train SE3 at a crossing on National Highway 1A, resulting in the driver's immediate death. On the evening of 8/3, in the Ngoc Hoi area, a motorcyclist died after attempting to cross a lowered barrier.
Following these incidents, the Traffic Police Department, under the Ministry of Public Security, urged authorities to increase inspections and enforce regulations at road-rail crossings. Despite these efforts, compliance among some drivers remains low, posing a risk of serious accidents.
On 4/4, authorities handled 110 railway-related violations, including: over 70 people stopping vehicles within the railway safety zone and 13 cases of crossing tracks against a red light. Violations were recorded in several locations: Ha Noi had 23 cases, TP HCM 13 cases, and Da Nang and Bac Ninh each reported 10 cases.
Under Decree 81, starting 15/5, bypassing railway barriers will incur stricter penalties. Motorcycle riders could face fines of up to 6 million VND and license suspension, while car drivers face fines up to 20 million VND.
Viet An
