VietNamNet Bridge – A recent rise in the number and variety of motorbikes, especially high-powered motorcycles, would worsen the traffic situation in large cities like HCM City and Ha Noi, a traffic official has said.

Senior Lieutenant-Colonel Tran Huu Toan of the Ministry of Public Security's Road and Railway Traffic Police Department said there were 29,100 motorbikes with an engine capacity of more than 175 cc in the country, mostly in large cities like HCM City (with 48.2 per cent) and Ha Noi (13.9 per cent).

No serious road accidents involving high-powered motorbikes have been recorded recently, but many of the drivers of these bikes lack skills or techniques necessary for driving high-powered motorbikes.

Around 70 -80 per cent of the drivers do not have adequate knowledge of traffic rules, he said, adding that some of the drivers do not comply with traffic regulations such as speeding, encroaching on lanes or creating engine noise that distracts other drivers.

Drivers of these motorbikes use the same roads as less powerful motorbikes which travel 30 – 40 kilometres per hour, causing a waste of petrol, affecting the operation of normal motorbikes and polluting the environment.

Nguyen Thang Quan of the Transport Ministry said currently in Viet Nam, only police, military officers, customs officers, rangers, tax officers and members of motorbike clubs are allowed to drive a high-power motorbike.

The country has issued 28,697 driver licenses A2 (for high-powered motorbikes), of which HCM City accounts for 12,876.

To meet the increased demand for high-powered motorbikes and ensure traffic safety, the Transport Ministry has asked the Government to allow other groups of individuals to drive high-powered motorbikes.

It also asked the Health Ministry to issues laws about health conditions for high-powered motorbike drivers.

Nguyen Thanh Phuong, a member of Harley Davidson Club in HCM City, said every member in the high-powered motorbike club must have monthly practice to improve their techniques as well as knowledge about road safety regulations.

According to the Viet Nam Registration Department, from 2004 to the end of last month, 8,682 motorbikes with engine capacity of more than 175 cc were imported to Viet Nam.

From March 1 to the end of last month, Viet Nam imported 3,416 motorbikes with engine capacity of more than 175 cc.

VNS