National Assembly delegations from Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri react to the "order" to divert traffic on the Cam Lo

Specifically, on the afternoon of April 9, speaking to the press, Ms. Nguyen Thi Suu said that the suggestion to the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Road Administration not to divert trucks with more than 30 seats, sleeper buses, and trucks with more than 6 axles from the Cam Lo - La Son Expressway to National Highway 1A of Quang Tri was also the opinion of the National Assembly Delegation of Thua Thien Hue Province. The current ban on the above-mentioned vehicles on the Cam Lo - La Son Expressway lacks legal basis and does not receive the consensus of the people.

Vehicles banned from traveling on Cam Lo - La Son highway were forced to return and take National Highway 1A through Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri.

Many problems arise

According to Decision No. 1747/QD-CDBVN of the Vietnam Road Administration, from 6:00 a.m. on April 4, passenger vans with more than 30 seats, sleeper vans, and vehicles with 6 axles or more (including monocoques and tractor-trailer combinations) are not allowed to operate on the Cam Lo - La Son highway.

As soon as this decision was issued, many people in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri reacted and the Traffic Safety Committee of Thua Thien Hue province immediately sent a document to the Vietnam Road Administration about this traffic diversion plan that would put National Highway 1A at risk of becoming a black spot for traffic accidents (SGGP Newspaper reported).

However, the people's concerns and the recommendations of the Traffic Safety Committee of Thua Thien Hue province were not accepted by the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Road Administration .

Specifically, the Department of Roads did not approve on the grounds that compared to the capacity of Cam Lo - La Son Expressway which is 9,200 - 11,000 PCU/day and night and National Highway 1A which is 31,000 - 33,000 PCU/day and night, Cam Lo - La Son Expressway is already overloaded. National Highway 1A is not yet overloaded, it is possible to allow some vehicles to be diverted to National Highway 1A. In addition, Cam Lo - La Son Expressway passes through mostly mountainous areas, complex terrain; heavy rain, often foggy at night, limited visibility; heavy trucks when traveling on mountain passes actually only reach 35 - 40km/h compared to the minimum speed of 60km/h. Meanwhile, Cam Lo - La Son Expressway has 2 lanes, about 8 - 10km is arranged a point to avoid overtaking. Heavy trucks climbing hills at slow speed, the vehicles behind have to line up, creating a feeling of frustration, easily leading to spontaneous overtaking in prohibited areas, increasing the risk of traffic accidents...

On April 8, after 4 days of banning the above vehicles from circulating on the Cam Lo - La Son highway, the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Tri province sent a document to the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Road Administration regarding traffic diversion on the Cam Lo - La Son highway through Quang Tri province.

Mr. Hoang Duc Thang, Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Tri Province, who signed the document, said: "For the peace of the people, we request the Ministry of Transport to consider the proposal not to divert passenger vans with more than 30 seats, sleeper buses, and vehicles with 6 axles to National Highway 1A . "

The reason is that through surveying, understanding the situation and receiving opinions from people, authorities and local functional agencies, the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Tri province found that this traffic diversion has caused problems .

Accordingly, National Highway 1A through Dong Ha City, Quang Tri Province is the administrative center of the province but up to now there is no bypass. Inter-provincial vehicles must pass through the city center with high density, traffic organization has lanes for rutted vehicles, motorbikes, two-wheeled motorbikes, bicycles, pedestrians... at the same level as the motor vehicle lane. On the other hand, National Highway 1A has been invested and exploited for many years, the road surface quality has degraded, many wheel ruts and potholes have appeared, posing a great risk of traffic accidents, especially during rush hours, rain, at night, limited visibility .

National Highway 1A also has 216 connecting roads at the same level, the traffic volume at the intersections is very large, posing a high risk of traffic accidents. Statistics show that there have been many traffic accidents involving trucks, tractor trailers with motorbikes and scooters .

Along National Highway 1A in the South of Quang Tri province, there are 4 districts, towns, cities and wards with dense population, schools on both sides, industrial parks... with a large number of people, workers and students traveling on National Highway 1A, therefore, there is a high risk of traffic accidents .

A series of signs prohibiting trucks with more than 30 seats, sleeper buses, and trucks with more than 6 axles were erected at intersections entering the Cam Lo - La Son highway.

In addition, the number of cars, motorbikes, bicycles traveling on National Highway 1A through Quang Tri province is actually very large. When the number of heavy trucks and other vehicles increases suddenly, the traffic order and safety situation on the route through this area will become more complicated and unpredictable.

Traffic diversion on the highway will also cause large trucks to "avoid" toll stations and enter local roads, making the degradation of these roads more serious, especially posing a very high risk of traffic accidents .

Need to listen to people's opinions and have a comprehensive assessment

Also according to the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Tri province, before the Cam Lo - La Son Expressway was put into operation, in 2022, National Highway 1A through Quang Tri province had 75 traffic accidents, killing 34 people and injuring 38 others.

After the expressway was put into operation, in 2023, this national highway had 51 traffic accidents, killing 19 people and injuring 25 people, a decrease of 24 accidents, 15 deaths and 13 injuries .

Meanwhile, from January 1 to March 25, 2024, on the Cam Lo - La Son highway through Quang Tri province, there were 4 traffic accidents, killing 1 person and injuring 2 people. Through analysis and assessment, the cause of the above accidents, in addition to the limitations of incomplete infrastructure conditions, is mainly and directly due to the awareness of traffic participants .

Vehicles banned from traveling on Cam Lo - La Son highway are forced to return to National Highway 1A through Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri.

According to the document of the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Tri province, the above information shows that the current traffic diversion on the Cam Lo - La Son expressway has no scientific basis or practical proof that it is correct, effective and practical; the impact has not been fully assessed; and the "risk" has been pushed to the locality and people of Quang Tri province.

Therefore, it is necessary to have a comprehensive and complete analysis, recognition and assessment, and especially to listen to the opinions of the people and local authorities in places directly affected.

"For the peace of people's lives, the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Tri province requests the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Road Administration to urgently consider the petition of the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Tri province."
- Mr. Hoang Duc Thang, Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Tri province emphasized.

VAN THANG

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