From January 1, 2025, drivers in Vietnam will operate under a 12-point license system as the Road Traffic Safety Law comes into effect.

Under this new policy, points will be deducted from a driver’s license for traffic violations, with the number of points deducted depending on the severity of the offense.

According to Article 58 of the law, point deductions will be updated in real-time in a centralized traffic safety database once a penalty decision is finalized.

Violators will also be notified of the deducted points and the remaining points on their licenses, allowing them to track their eligibility to operate vehicles.

The Ministry of Public Security is drafting specific regulations for the system, including point deduction thresholds for each violation.

If a driver’s license reaches zero points, the individual will be prohibited from driving until completing a mandatory refresher course and passing a knowledge test on traffic safety.

Drivers who retain points and do not commit further infractions for 12 consecutive months will have their licenses restored to the full 12 points.

For those who lose all 12 points, a six-month waiting period is required before retaking a traffic safety knowledge test. Upon passing, their licenses will be restored with the full 12 points.

However, newly issued, renewed, or upgraded licenses will retain the point count from the previous license and will not automatically reset to 12 points.

To implement the system effectively, the Ministry of Public Security has issued Circular 65/2024, detailing the process for conducting traffic safety tests to restore points.

The knowledge tests will be organized by traffic police and will assess drivers’ understanding of road safety regulations.

The government hopes that this point-based system will promote greater accountability among drivers and reduce road accidents, creating a safer environment for all road users.

Dinh Hieu