VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) has rejected recent media reports that it will begin a pilot scheme permitting motorcycles with engines of 400cc or bigger to use expressways which are currently for automobiles only.

Heavy duty motorcycles are seen on the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway in February this year when the expressway is completed and opened to traffic. The launch of a pilot scheme permitting big motorcycles to use expressways remains unknown as relevant rules are being drafted

VEC general director Mai Anh Tuan made the clarification after some local newspapers reported that such big bikes would be allowed on expressways.

The false news came after Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang told representatives of relevant agencies at a meeting in Hanoi on May 13 to study a pilot scheme for motorbikes with engines of over 175cc to travel on Hanoi-Lao Cai, HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay and HCMC-Trung Luong expressways.

Tuan told the Daily that the ministry has assigned the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam to work out a detailed plan and submit it to the ministry and the Government for consideration and approval.

VEC is now waiting for decisions of management agencies to implement the scheme in line with the existing regulations, Tuan said.  

Do Chi Trung, head of VEC’s Administrative Office, said VEC had not received any instructions from the ministry and competent agencies to study allowing such big bikes to use the expressways.

Earlier, Khuat Viet Hung, vice chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee, said the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam would draft regulations permitting heavy duty motorcycles to use expressways after the green light was given by Minister Thang. As the agency will have to submit these regulations to the Government for approval, it cannot say when the pilot scheme begins.

Speaking at a seminar in HCMC early this month, members of heavy duty motorcycles clubs suggested the National Traffic Safety Committee open expressways to big bikes. They said their motorcycles cannot travel at 30-40 kilometers per hour like smaller bikes but if they ride faster than speed limits on normal roads, they would be fined.

SGT