Pedestrians face tougher penalties for traffic violations
Pedestrians will face strict fines and penalties for violating traffic rules from next January.
People who violate traffic rules and cause serious injuries to others or at least one fatality will face strict punishments. Those who cause VND100m (USD4,400) to VND500m in damage will be fined VND30m to VND100m and up to three years of non-custodial reform or one to five years of imprisonment.
Pedestrians that do not follow the footpath or pavement and cause a fatality will face one to five years imprisonment. If drunk or refuse to follow police orders and cause accidents that lead to two deaths, they will face three to 10 years of imprisonment.
If the violation causes three deaths, serious injuries or over VND1.5bn (USD66,200) in damage, the pedestrians will face seven to 15 years of imprisonment.
Lawyer Nguyen Tien Hoa from Hanoi Bar Association said that public awareness about traffic rules was still low. Moreover, the pavements on many streets were either too narrow to walk on or encroached upon by businesses so it would be tough to monitor how these rules would be implemented.
He went on to say that in some cases, it would be difficult to determine who caused an accident.
A woman and two children cross a street in Hanoi
People who violate traffic rules and cause serious injuries to others or at least one fatality will face strict punishments. Those who cause VND100m (USD4,400) to VND500m in damage will be fined VND30m to VND100m and up to three years of non-custodial reform or one to five years of imprisonment.
Pedestrians that do not follow the footpath or pavement and cause a fatality will face one to five years imprisonment. If drunk or refuse to follow police orders and cause accidents that lead to two deaths, they will face three to 10 years of imprisonment.
If the violation causes three deaths, serious injuries or over VND1.5bn (USD66,200) in damage, the pedestrians will face seven to 15 years of imprisonment.
Lawyer Nguyen Tien Hoa from Hanoi Bar Association said that public awareness about traffic rules was still low. Moreover, the pavements on many streets were either too narrow to walk on or encroached upon by businesses so it would be tough to monitor how these rules would be implemented.
He went on to say that in some cases, it would be difficult to determine who caused an accident.
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