Public dismay as more people hold parties on expressway

By Nguyen Quy   February 17, 2019 | 06:42 pm PT
Two video clips of people holding parties on an expressway near Hanoi late last week has caused public anger.

On Friday a video of five people celebrating on the median strip of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway, which connects Hanoi and the northern highlands resort town of Sa Pa, went viral on social media.

There was an online public outcry, with many criticizing it as "death-defying."

Just a day later netizens were shocked to see a similar clip showing a group of four men parking their car on the expressway's shoulder, and having a party apparently on Friday night. 

Expressway shoulders are only meant for vehicles to pull over in an emergency and for those with priority.

A Facebook photo shows a group of four men have a drinking party on the shoulder of Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway on Friday night.

A Facebook photo shows a group of four men drinking on the shoulder of the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway on Friday night.

The police are investigating both cases.

Earlier, a man named Ho Chi Viet in Hanoi was fined VND5.5 million ($237) and had his driving license suspended for two months after he posted pictures and a livestream video of his family enjoying a Tet meal on the shoulder of the same expressway on February 6.

Parking violations on expressways are subject to fines of VND5-6 million ($215-$258).

Road crashes are a leading cause of death in Vietnam, killing almost one person every hour. More than 18,720 accidents occurred last year, killing 8,244 people and injuring nearly 14,800, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee.

 
 
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