Do motorbikes have to turn on their turn signals when passing cars on village roads?

This person was seriously injured, and his family asked me to compensate them because they thought it was wrong for a car not to give way to a small vehicle, and that motorbikes driving on village roads do not need to use turn signals.

I was driving on the village road at an average speed, without any violations, so I did not accept the compensation request.

May I ask, do motorbikes need to turn on their turn signals when overtaking cars on village roads? Who is right or wrong in this accident? Do I have to compensate this person?

MINH HUNG(Tu Ky)

Reply:According to Article 14 of the Road Traffic Law, overtaking must be done safely and with clear signals.

Specifically, drivers who want to overtake must turn on their turn signals or honk their horns to notify other vehicles, helping them recognize the overtaking action. This applies to all vehicles, including motorbikes.

In this case, if a motorbike does not turn on the turn signal or honk when passing, it is a violation of traffic signal regulations.

Point a, Clause 3, Article 7 of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP stipulates a fine of VND 600,000 - 800,000 for motorbike drivers who change direction without observing or not ensuring a safe distance from the vehicle behind or without reducing speed or without signaling a turn or having a turn signal but not using it continuously during the change of direction (except in the case of driving along a curved road section where the road does not intersect at the same level).

Clause 10 of this law also stipulates a fine of 10 - 14 million VND for drivers entering the highway, stopping, parking, turning, reversing, overtaking, changing direction, or changing lanes in violation of regulations, causing traffic accidents...

Clause 13, Article 7 of Decree 168 stipulates that motorcyclists who do not use turn signals and cause traffic accidents will have their driving license deducted 10 points.

Thus, the violation of not using turn signals on a motorbike will be fined from 600,000 to 800,000 VND. If not using turn signals causes a traffic accident, the fine will be 10 to 14 million VND, and 10 points will be deducted from the driver's license.

The spirit of the law, the violation will be handled accordingly, this person will be administratively punished when participating in traffic such as not using turn signals when passing, other violations (if any)...

Regarding your responsibility: You were driving a truck on a village road at an average speed, in the correct lane, if you did not change direction or speed suddenly and the motorbike tried to overtake without paying attention to your safety (no turn signal, not enough safe distance when overtaking) then you may not have much responsibility in this accident.

However, when participating in traffic, you still need to ensure that your driving behavior does not violate traffic safety regulations. You will be at fault when driving on the wrong side of the road or changing direction suddenly without careful observation.

In the village roads are very narrow so you have to pay more attention, perhaps this is also the main cause of traffic collisions. Cars are a source of high danger so when participating in traffic you have to pay attention and ensure the safest possible for other vehicles.

There are many cases where the speed and lane are correct but it is still determined as mixed fault and compensation must be paid to the injured party according to Clause 3, Article 601 of the 2015 Civil Code.