Clause 4, Article 6 of Decree 168/2024 stipulates fines of 2–3 million VND for vehicles without ETC eligibility (such as those without transponders) entering lanes designated for automatic electronic toll collection.

The 2024 Road Traffic Law further requires drivers to pay road tolls and related fees through traffic accounts. These accounts provide a fast and convenient way to handle fees such as road use, parking, and other transportation services.

A growing issue

The issue of empty traffic accounts is becoming increasingly common.

Nguyen Tran Manh, a Hanoi resident, recalled an instance when he had to drive to Hai Phong without checking his traffic account balance. Fortunately, he noticed a recharge station near a toll booth and avoided fines or delays.

In 2024 alone, the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) reported over 590,000 instances of vehicles with insufficient ETC funds on highways it manages, including Noi Bai–Lao Cai, Cau Gie–Ninh Binh, Da Nang–Quang Ngai, and Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh–Dau Giay. This has led to congestion and increased risks of accidents at toll plazas.

Proposed solutions

To prevent such issues, VEC urges drivers to maintain adequate balances in their traffic accounts when using expressways.

Nguyen Viet Trung, another Hanoi resident, suggested implementing a notification system similar to those in other countries. Drivers could receive alerts when their account balance falls below a certain threshold (e.g., 100,000 VND).

If a negative balance occurs, drivers could still use the ETC system but would need to settle outstanding amounts within three days to avoid late fees. Persistent non-payment could lead to escalating penalties, such as:

Monthly notifications about unpaid fees.

Restrictions on vehicle registration renewal for balances exceeding a set amount (e.g., 500,000 VND).

Coordination with traffic authorities to enforce payment compliance.

This approach, Trung noted, would encourage accountability while minimizing disruptions.

Expert recommendations

Dr. Tran Huu Minh, Chief of the National Traffic Safety Committee’s Office, emphasized the need for clear regulations to improve ETC efficiency.

He proposed progressive fines for repeated violations, including additional charges for road use fees and penalties such as:

100,000 VND for the first incident within a year.

300,000 VND for the second incident.

1 million VND for the third incident.

2 million VND for further violations, along with license point deductions.

These figures are illustrative, with specific thresholds to be determined by authorities.

Dr. Minh also called for these provisions to be incorporated into a legally binding document, such as an official circular, to ensure compliance.

With more vehicles relying on ETC systems, effective management is critical to maintaining smooth traffic flow and enforcing regulations. Combining penalties, proactive alerts, and streamlined payment processes could help address the growing challenge of empty ETC accounts while fostering better compliance among drivers.

N. Huyen