Two-lane expressways were once expected to drive development in many localities. However, the problems have turned many sections into "black spots" for accidents. 

Newly operational North-South expressways, including those built with a two-lane scale in the initial phase, have shortened travel times but have also become new traffic "black spots" with recurring accidents.

Most recently, on July 9, a serious traffic accident occurred on Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet expressway (Ham Liem commune, Lam Dong province), killing three people on the spot.

At the time of the accident, the driver of a sleeper bus failed to stay alert and maintain a safe distance, crashing into the rear of another sleeper bus that had stopped urgently on the driving lane due to a flat tire.

On June 19, at Km 46+100 on Da Nang – Quang Ngai expressway (Binh Chanh commune, Thang Binh district, former Quang Nam province), a passenger bus suddenly collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer that was partially stopped in the emergency lane. The accident killed two people and injured many others.

Prior to that, on two-lane expressways, including Mai Son–National Highway 45 and Nghi Son – Dien Chau, chain-reaction accidents occurred due to sudden stops, lack of emergency lanes, or drivers losing control while avoiding obstacles.

Many accidents resulted in two to four casualties, severe vehicle damage, and hours-long traffic paralysis. For instance, in February 2024, a tragic accident on the Cam Lo –La Son expressway involved a seven-seater car colliding with a container truck, claiming the lives of a mother and her two children.

Narrow roads, no emergency lanes

The Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security cited surveys saying that many expressway sections failed to meet safety standards, but were still put into operation. Issues included no solid median dividers, no emergency stopping lanes or too narrow lanes to meet standards, inadequate nighttime lighting, and limited visibility.

For example, on the Da Nang – Quang Ngai expressway, the emergency lane is not wide enough to meet standards. While the minimum required width is 3 meters, actual measurements show only 2.5m (including lane markings), causing large trucks to encroach on the driving lane when they stop.

On Cam Lo – La Son and Noi Bai – Lao Cai expressways (from Km 123 to Km 262+300), there are only two lanes, no median dividers, and no emergency stopping lanes, leading to safety risks from overtaking or vehicles stopping on the driving lane.

The Traffic Police Department noted that most expressways built with two lanes lack auxiliary facilities like rest stops, forcing drivers to continue in state of fatigue, stress, or drowsiness.

"Many drivers intentionally stop or park to use the restroom or rest briefly, occupying the driving lane and causing accidents," an official of the department said.

Hidden dangers

Stories from drivers and residents along two-lane expressways highlight the risks.

Tran Duc Huy, 38, a container truck driver with 15 years of experience on North-South routes, said: “Some sections are so narrow that a nearly 20m-long container truck would face extreme danger when a car or bus suddenly slows down. Overtaking is tough, and avoiding broken-down vehicles is even harder without an emergency lane. A slight steering mistake can send you into the opposite lane or off the road.”

Huy said he hopes two-lane expressways will be widened, equipped with emergency lanes, clear lane markings, and surveillance cameras to curb lane violations and reckless overtaking, which cause collisions.

Nguyen Thi Lan, 56, living near a two-lane expressway in the central region, said she had witnessed many tragic accidents involving motorbikes entering the wrong lane.

“Some sections lack service roads, so locals take shortcuts across the expressway. At night, motorbikes without lights or elderly riders moving slowly are easily hit by fast-moving trucks. We urgently need barriers, clear signage, and proper entry/exit points to prevent motorbikes from entering the expressway,” Lan said.

Pham Van Tin, 44, a fixed-route bus driver from Ha Tinh to Da Nang, said nighttime trips on two-lane expressways are always daunting.

“I’ve encountered broken-down trucks blocking the road with no space to maneuver. You either swerve into the opposite lane or brake hard. If there’s oncoming traffic, it’s a recipe for a chain-reaction crash,” Tin said.

As the North-South expressway system continues to expand, the issue of two-lane routes without emergency stopping lanes remains a pressing challenge. Without solutions, these roads, meant to shorten distances and boost economic growth, risk becoming persistent “black spots” for traffic accidents.

Dinh Hieu - Y Nhuy