The pilot program will be implemented in two phases. In phase one, from 15/8 to 14/9, the Traffic Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) will implement speed limits and lane restrictions for trucks.

On the Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway (from km0 to km105), trucks are prohibited from using the innermost left lane closest to the median strip. The speed limit for this lane is 90-120 km/h. All vehicles are permitted to use the two middle lanes, with a maximum speed of 100 km/h and minimum speeds of 80 km/h and 60 km/h respectively for the two middle lanes, starting from the center of the road outwards.

On the Phap Van - Cau Gie Expressway (from km1820 to km211), trucks are prohibited from the innermost lane closest to the median. All vehicles are permitted in the remaining two lanes. The speed limits for the three lanes are 100 km/h maximum, with minimum speeds of 80 km/h, 70 km/h, and 60 km/h respectively, starting from the center of the road outwards.

Vehicles traveling on Phap Van - Cau Gie Expressway towards the city center. Photo: Viet An

In phase two, from 15/9 to 14/12, the Traffic Police Department will implement speed limits and lane restrictions for both trucks and buses. The speed limits from phase one will remain in effect on both expressways. Trucks and buses will be prohibited from using the innermost left lane adjacent to the median strip.

In addition, the Traffic Police Department has requested the Vietnam Road Administration to install overhead gantries or cantilever signs indicating maximum and minimum speeds, vehicle restrictions, and lane designations for each lane. Speed limit markings will also be painted on the road surface according to the plans for each phase, repeating every 15-20 km.

This pilot program is being implemented due to the increasing number of traffic accidents involving trucks and buses, which account for one-third of total accidents in the first six months of 2025. Many instances involve large trucks intentionally driving slowly in the left lane closest to the median; frequent lane changes obstruct and restrict the flow of traffic on the expressways, causing congestion and increasing the risk of accidents.

Viet An