As the Lunar New Year approaches, traffic conditions in many places are becoming more complicated, especially congestion. We need to be vigilant against the distortion of Decree 168 that traffic congestion is caused by increased fines.
Using many sophisticated tricks, political opposition forces have tried to exaggerate and distort the truth, claiming that Decree 168/2024/ND-CP regulating administrative sanctions for violations of road traffic order and safety was not developed according to proper procedures and did not have enough time to consult with the community.
They put forward the argument: "Request to immediately cancel Decree 168 and prosecute the person who wrote it, causing suffering to the people and social disorder" or they posted articles: "Prohibition of driving for more than four hours: suffering for drivers, suffering for businesses"; "People are upset because traffic lights are malfunctioning when applying the new fine"...
More worryingly, some individuals deliberately follow and promote the above distorted arguments, spreading false information.
In fact, Decree 168 was developed and issued transparently, aiming to raise awareness of compliance with the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, reduce accidents and protect people's lives and property.
According to statistics from the National Traffic Safety Committee, in 2024 alone, more than 8,000 people died in traffic accidents, creating an urgent need to amend and supplement more appropriate legal regulations.
After nearly 1 month of implementing Decree 168, there has been a major change in people's awareness. Traffic safety and order across the country has seen many significant changes. People's awareness of obeying traffic laws has improved, especially with violations that are direct causes of traffic accidents such as driving with alcohol in their breath, running red lights, going in the opposite direction, speeding... Traffic accidents have thus decreased in all 3 criteria.
It must be affirmed that the current traffic congestion, especially in big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, has many causes, not due to the implementation of Decree No. 168 as some articles distorted on social networks.
In Vietnam, in the process of socio-economic development and rapid urbanization, traffic congestion is inevitable, especially when the Lunar New Year is approaching, when people's travel needs increase dramatically. Meanwhile, the infrastructure is not yet synchronized, the transportation system in many big cities and inter-provincial routes are still limited, not enough to meet the sudden increase in demand during holidays and Tet.
Therefore, every citizen needs to raise awareness of traffic law compliance, be alert to false arguments, and only receive information from official, reliable sources. Be wary of sensational, unfounded, or provocative content on social networks; avoid sharing or spreading articles and videos of unknown origin, with signs of distortion or error.
Protecting the truth and building a safe traffic environment is the responsibility of every citizen. Being alert and clear-headed in the face of distorted arguments not only helps you avoid being deceived but also contributes to the sustainable development of society, building a safer and more civilized society.
NGUYEN THANH