# Vietnam highway overtaking safety > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/vietnam-highway-overtaking-safety > Updated: 2026-08-24T06:01:00.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 5. A viral video of a Mercedes executing a reckless overtaking maneuver on a Vietnamese highway sparked public concern after it caused a multi‑vehicle collision. Safety experts used the incident to stress proactive lane discipline: overtake only when a safe gap exists, keep a flexible position in the middle lane, and yield when needed to avoid chain crashes. Following the crash, Vietnam’s Traffic Police Department and the Roads Authority announced a joint study of a dedicated overtaking lane on expressways. On 27 July 2026 they proposed a lane adjacent to the median barrier for passing slower trucks or buses, with drivers required to return promptly to the regular lane and prohibited from continuous travel in the overtaking lane. Certain routes, such as the Pháp Vân‑Cao Bồ expressway, may ban heavy vehicles from using the lane. A briefing on 30 July 2026 highlighted that left‑hand overtaking reduces blind‑spot exposure compared with right‑hand passes, especially for higher‑seated vehicles, and cited left‑hand overtaking as standard in most right‑hand‑drive countries. The same day, the Traffic Police detailed the design of the median overtaking lane: it will be the leftmost lane on multi‑lane highways, usable only for a single overtaking maneuver before drivers must merge back. Enforcement will rely on highway surveillance cameras and driver‑recording devices to detect vehicles that remain in the lane beyond a pass. A pilot will be run on a suitable northern highway with at least two to three lanes before nationwide rollout, with exceptions only for emergencies or force‑majeure events. On 23 August 2026, the Traffic Police Department conducted practical demonstrations on the Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressway to instruct drivers on proper procedures. Officers simulated lane changes and overtaking maneuvers to reinforce the principle that the leftmost lane must be used strictly for passing. ## Claims - The Vietnam Traffic Police (CSGT) proposes using the lane adjacent to the median on highways exclusively for overtaking. (corroborated by 5 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-24: Vietnam to add overtaking and lane-changing tasks to driver exams From March 2027, Vietnam will introduce new overtaking and lane-changing maneuvers as mandatory components in automobile driver's license practical examinations. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-to-add-overtaking-and-lane-changing-tasks-to-driver-exams ### 2026-08-23: Vietnam Traffic Police demonstrate proper expressway overtaking procedures Vietnam's Traffic Police Department is demonstrating proper expressway etiquette, emphasizing that the leftmost lane must be used only for overtaking before returning to the right lane. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-traffic-police-demonstrate-proper-expressway-overtaking-procedures ### 2026-07-30: Vietnam traffic police propose dedicated median overtaking lane on highways Vietnam's traffic police propose a median overtaking lane on highways, banning continuous travel in that lane, enforcing via camera footage, and piloting the system on a northern route. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-traffic-police-proposes-dedicated-overtaking-lane-on-highways-1 ### 2026-07-27: Vietnam Traffic Police Proposes Dedicated Overtaking Lane on Highways Vietnam's Traffic Police and Roads Authority propose a dedicated overtaking lane on highways, limited to vehicles passing slower traffic and requiring a return to the right lane, to ease congestion. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-traffic-police-proposes-dedicated-overtaking-lane-on-highways ### 2026-07-04: Vietnam highway crash underscores need for proactive lane discipline A Mercedes' unsafe overtaking on a Vietnamese highway caused a three‑car crash; experts urge drivers to overtake only with clear gaps, use middle lanes, and avoid refusing to yield. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-highway-crash-underscores-need-for-proactive-lane-discipline --- Cite as: Vietnam highway overtaking safety. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/vietnam-highway-overtaking-safety