Vietnam has changed a commonly held international perception on the use of amber or yellow traffic lights. It is no longer permissible to travel through an amber light if travelling too fast to stop, instead the driver will be subject to a fine.

A fine of VND2 million (USD89.84) will be imposed on those running yellow traffic lights, a move expected to help enhance traffic obedience.

Many readers in their response to Dan Tri/Dtinews have supported the new law and expressed concerns over the low quality of the traffic signal systems in many areas.

Duc Trung from Hanoi said: "I support this new regulation, which I believe will improve the behaviour of drivers. I often see few people slow down and stop when the traffic light turns yellow, instead they speed up trying to get through before it turns red."

"Meanwhile, people coming from other directions can’t wait patiently for the green light and start moving 3 or 4 seconds before the light actually turns green. Everyone wants to get through first, and this causes chaos in the middle of the intersections. So I think a fine on the yellow light would work. But we need to increase the fine for red light runners, because yellow and red are different."

Nguyen Van Hung from central Hue City said that the new law is good but local authorities should make sure the clock traffic signals work properly so that drivers can well prepare to stop.

"I've seen dead clocks in many places," Hung said. "And is is very dangerous for drivers if the lights just suddenly change to yellow and red and they have to make an urgent brake."

Nguyen Thanh from HCM City also said she likes the new law but there should be measures to supervise traffic police to make sure that the fine is equally imposed on all violators, no exceptions for blue-plated vehicles.

Dtinews