Long lines of vehicles clogged Nguyen Xi Street in Binh Thanh District on Thursday, with motorbikes squeezed between cars. Traffic lights along the street remained red for about 110 seconds, while green lights lasted just 25 seconds. Drivers refrained from turning right at Pham Van Dong Street toward the Binh Loi Bridge, a once-common practice, further exacerbating the gridlock.
Thanh Huong, a 35-year-old commuter, described her daily struggle navigating from District 1 to Thu Duc City via Nguyen Xi Street, where she picks up her child. Previously, she would turn right at Pham Van Dong Street even when the traffic light was red. However, after the decree introduced stricter fines for traffic violations earlier this year, she now only turns right when the light is green.
“Turning right from Nguyen Xi to Pham Van Dong helped ease traffic flow and caused minimal disruption. The new decree has discouraged this practice, worsening congestion,” Huong said, adding that authorities should consider allowing motorbikes to turn right on red at intersections where it is safe to do so.
Congestion is not limited to Nguyen Xi Street. Major intersections in downtown districts, including 1, 3 and 5, as well as areas near Tan Son Nhat Airport, have experienced severe gridlock. On Dinh Tien Hoang Street in District 1, drivers hesitated to turn right on red, resulting in traffic piling up on previously clear routes.
Le Van Hai, deputy head of HCMC’s traffic police department, attributed the worsening congestion to the holiday season’s increased travel and shopping activities. He acknowledged the decree’s impact, noting a reduction in violations such as speeding through lights and riding on pavements.
Urban areas inherently have high traffic density, Hai said, adding that authorities should conduct surveys and coordinate with the Department of Transport to implement measures like installing signs permitting right turns on red where appropriate.
Nguyen Thanh Loi, deputy head of the HCMC Traffic Safety Committee, stated that fines for turning right on red have long been in place to ensure safety. Yet, he acknowledged that HCMC’s overcrowded roads and limited infrastructure have made such turns a habitual practice for many.
The city on Friday sent out teams to insall signals allowing motorbike riders to turn right at red light at 50 intersections in the downtown area to ease traffic jams.
The transport department reported improved traffic behavior since the decree’s implementation but acknowledged persistent issues due to high vehicle density and narrow roads. Plans are underway to adjust traffic light durations and install signs permitting right turns at select intersections to alleviate congestion. The department is also deploying AI to manage traffic lights in congested areas, including Hang Xanh and the Ung Van Khiem-Nguyen Gia Tri intersection.
“In the near future, AI technology will be used to control traffic lights around Tan Son Nhat Airport, downtown areas and other hotspots,” the department announced.
As of late 2024, HCMC, home to over 10 million residents, managed more than 9.5 million vehicles, including over a million cars and 8.5 million motorbikes.
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