Vietnam Traffic Police Proposes Dedicated Overtaking Lane on Highways

On 27 July, the Traffic Police Department (Cục Cảnh sát giao thông) and the Roads Authority (Cục Đường bộ Việt Nam) agreed to study a new traffic arrangement for Vietnam's highways. The plan creates a lane next to the median barrier designated solely for overtaking. It is intended for vehicles that need to pass slower trucks or buses that linger in the left‑most lane, a behavior that has caused congestion and delays. Drivers must switch to the overtaking lane only to pass, then return promptly to the right‑hand lane and comply with lane‑changing rules; continuous travel in the overtaking lane is prohibited. Some expressways, such as the Pháp Vân‑Cao Bồ route, may ban heavy vehicles from this lane to further improve flow. The proposal aims to enhance safety and traffic efficiency by enforcing clearer lane discipline and reducing bottlenecks.