Large trucks prohibited from entering inner of Bien Hoa City

​The trucks were in circulation on Nguyen Ai Quoc Street, the section passing through Ho Nai Ward, Bien Hoa City.

The enterprises lament over difficulties

For many months now, since the application of the restriction on trucks to Bien Hoa City, Mr. Ha Ngoc Doanh (owner of a freight transport business in Long Binh Ward, Bien Hoa City) has faced many difficulties. Most of the roads passed by his company's vehicles are marked with signs of truck ban schedule. In particular, the most "serious" case belongs to Pham Van Thuan route, which prohibits trucks of more than 5 tons from operating from 6am to 10pm, and trucks of more than 2 tons from operating for periods of 6am to 8 am, 11am to 01pm and 04pm to 10pm.

According to Doanh, transporting goods are now only in operation from late at night until dawn, and during the day it is almost "stagnant" as from small trucks to large ones, it is difficult to run in time as prescribed. In addition, jams are contiguous in many roads, if the trucks does not get out in time, it is easy to be subjected to a penalty by the competent force.

“After the regulations on banning trucks from circulating, the businesses are forced to split their goods and hire more vehicles with a tonnage of less than 2 tons for delivery from 8-16 hours and from 10pm in the previous day to before 6 am in the next day. If the ban period lasts, it will definitely affect business activities; not only my business but also many other businesses want the functional force to adjust the ban more appropriately”, said Doanh.

Meanwhile, a driver named Dinh Thanh Tai (living in Tan Bien Ward, Bien Hoa City) said that previously, the time to ban trucks of over 3.5 tons was between 6am to 8 am, 11am to 01pm and 04pm to 06pm daily, while the current vehicle load is limited to just over 2 tons, many vehicles cannot operate, making his job severely affected. Before every hour of the ban, dozens of trucks are forced themselves to park on streets in nearby residential areas to wait until the ban is over. This leads to traffic congestion and difficulty in circulation.

“Therefore, I think the authorities should carry out a survey and make thorough consideration when making a decision to ban trucks, as it will involve many people's lives. It is advisable to increase the traffic time at night, because if trucks over 5 tons are banned from 6am to 10pm, it is really difficult for both businesses and drivers”, said Tai.

It takes time to follow up

To strengthen solutions to ensure traffic safety and congestion reduction, especially during peak hours, since May 2020, Bien Hoa City has adjusted, supplemented and installed a new system of signs prohibiting trucks on many roads.

Specifically, the ban against trucks is applied from 06am to 10pm for trucks of over 5 tons; 6am to 8am, 11am to 01pm, and 04pm to 10pm for trucks of over 2 tons on Nguyen Ai Quoc Street. For Dong Khoi Street (the section from Tan Phong intersection to Amata intersection), trucks of over 2 tons are banned from 6am to 8pm, 11am to 01pm and 04pm to 10pm. For Bui Van Hoa Street, trucks of over 2 tons is prohibited from operating from 6am to 8am and 04pm to 07pm.

In addition, trucks of over 5 tons are banned from 6am to 10pm for routes such as Phan Trung, Truong Dinh, Ly Van Sam, Le Quy Don, Dang Van Tron, Nguyen Phuc Chu and so on. Furthermore, Bien Hoa City proposes the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Transport to approve two directions of the ring road for trucks, not to travel to the city center.

Mr. Truong Vinh Hiep, Head of Urban Management Office of Bien Hoa City said that the ban is introduced to reduce traffic congestion increasingly complicated in some downtown roads. Thus, it helps to solve traffic jams at rush hours as well as ensure safety for people and vehicles.

The ban on light trucks from entering the city center has just been implemented recently, so it takes time to assess the impacts and shortcomings to come up with appropriate adjustment. In fact, since enforced, the office has received feedback from many businesses. The businesses and residents' recommendations are mainly related to the consideration of adjusting the time and forbidden load of the vehicle.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan, Vice Chairman of Bien Hoa City People's Committee, said that after nearly 5 months of implementing the regulation on banning trucks from entering the city center road during peak hours, there has been a lot of consent and support from the people, especially in the present time, as the number of vehicles in the city is increasing and the transport infrastructure is still limited. However, in the implementation process, many enterprises has proposed the ban to be eased.

“Bien Hoa City has arranged conversations with businesses for measures to overcome difficulties. In the short term, the city assigns the Urban Management Office of Bien Hoa City to work with the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee and the Department of Transport for reasonable adjustments. However, it is necessary to ban as well as restrict heavy-load vehicles to circulate at peak hours”, stressed Tan.

Le Thu