Chương I Thông tư 31/2019/TT-BGTVT : Quy định chung

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope

This Circular prescribes speed and safety distance of road vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles in road traffic, except prioritized vehicles while on mission as per the law.

Article 2. Regulated entities

This Circular applies to drivers, operators of heavy-duty vehicles, entities and persons relating management and implementation of decision on speed and safety distance of road vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles in road traffic.

Article 3. Term interpretation

In this Circular, terms below are construed as follows:

1. “A crowded road” refers to a road in urban city, urban commune, urban town, and roads where many people live nearby and affect traffic safety; indicated by traffic signs signaling beginning of crowded area.

2. “Road vehicles” include cars; tractors; trailers and semi trailers towed by cars and tractors; motorcycles; motorized tricycles; mopeds (including electric mopeds) and similar vehicles.

3. “Heavy-duty automobiles” include automobiles designed and equipped to perform specific functions, including: street sweepers; watering trucks; waste vacuum trucks, garbage compactor trucks; mortar mixer vehicles; cement mixer vehicles; concrete pumping vehicles; cranes; stair trucks; drilling vehicles; traffic rescue vehicles; television production vehicles, signal coverage measurement vehicles; bridge inspection and maintenance vehicles, tunnel cable inspection vehicles, x-ray trucks, mobile surgery units and similar vehicles.

4. “Heavy-duty machines” include construction machines, agricultural and forestry machinery and other heavy-duty machines used national defense and security participating in road traffic.

5. “A central reservation” refers to a section of the road on which no vehicles shall run, which is used to separate the road into 2 independent opposing lanes (common types including: concrete step barriers, concrete jersey barriers, steel median strips, steel guardrails or spare land strip).

6. “A dual carriageway” refers to 2 roads of opposing directions separated by a central reservation (a road will not be classified as a dual carriageway if it is separated by road markings).

7. “A one-way street” refers to a street facilitating one-way traffic.

8. “A two-way street” refers to a street allowing travel in both directions on the same carriageway, not separated by a central reservation.

9. “Payload” refers to the permitted gross weight, determined according to Certificate of technical and environmental safety inspection of road vehicles.

Article 4. Rules on compliance with regulations on speed and distance during participation in road traffic

1. While participating in road traffic, vehicle operators must stringently comply with regulations on minimum speed and safety distance between 2 vehicles (classified as road vehicles, heavy-duty vehicles) that are prescribed by road signs.

2. With respect to roads that are not installed with speed limit signs or signs prescribing minimum safety distance between 2 vehicles, the vehicle operators participating in road traffic must comply with regulations in Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 of this Circular.

3. The vehicle operators participating in road traffic must control their vehicles at such speed that when taking into account conditions of bridges, roads, traffic density, terrain, weather and other factors will ensure traffic safety.

Article 5. Cases of slowdown

A vehicle operator participating in road traffic must slow down to a stop safely when:

1. He/she encounters a warning sign or obstacle on the road; or

2. He/she changes in travel direction or has limited vision; or

3. He/she arrives at an at-grade intersection; at a level crossing; at a road curve; at a road with hairpin turns or steep slopes; at a narrow or bumpy road; or

4. He/she crosses a narrow bridge or culvert; crosses an overflowing damp, underground or tunnel; reaches near the peak of a slope, when descending it; or

5. He/she passes an area with schools, hospitals, bus stations, crowded public constructions; an area with large population, with factory or office situated along the road; road construction sites; traffic accident scene; or

6. He/she approaches a pedestrian or a person with disability confined to a wheelchair crossing the road; or

7. He/she encounters livestock walking or herded along the road; or

8. He/she avoids a vehicle from the opposite direction or gives way to a vehicle behind; receives a turn signal or an emergency flasher of a leading vehicle;

9. He/she approaches a bus stop or a parking spot with passengers getting on or off of a vehicle; or

10. He/she encounters a prioritized vehicle on a mission; a heavy transport vehicle; pedestrians; or

11. He/she operates the vehicle in the rain, fog, dust; on slippery, muddy road or road with lots of scattered rocks and debris;

12. He/she controls the vehicle through vehicle weigh stations, police stations or tollbooths for road vehicles.