Have you ever felt lost and confused by “puzzling” traffic signs on the road? Have you ever found yourself scratching your head trying to “guess” the meaning of some “bizarre” traffic signs?
If your answer is YES, you’re not alone!
Over the past period, we’ve received numerous complaints from readers about the chaotic state of traffic signs on many roads. Signs that seem like riddles, vague, or even incomprehensible not only create difficulties for drivers but also pose risks that could lead to unfortunate accidents.
Therefore, we have decided to launch a series titled “The Maze of Traffic Signs” – shedding light on this issue. Together with our readers, we will identify problematic signs, analyze flaws in the traffic system, and propose practical solutions to improve the situation.
We hope this series will amplify calls for relevant authorities to take action and resolve the chaos surrounding traffic signs, ensuring safety and convenience for all road users.
Stay tuned!
Regarding the feedback on “drivers confused by speed limit signs during 4 time slots on national highways,” reported by Dân trí, a representative from the Vietnam Road Administration (Ministry of Transport) told reporters that the administration has delegated management and supervision responsibilities to the Road Management Sub-department III.3, covering provinces such as Khánh Hòa, Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định,…
Currently, the Vietnam Road Administration has not yet received full details or feedback regarding the matter.
In an interview with Dân trí about confusing traffic signs, Dr. Khương Kim Tạo, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Traffic Safety Committee, commented that installing speed limit signs with supplementary information restricting speeds during certain hours—written in text and numbers—can make it difficult for drivers to observe all the details while driving.
According to Mr. Tạo, to promptly address these issues with road traffic signs, relevant agencies need to inspect, review, and evaluate them to determine appropriate corrective measures.
Expert suggests solutions for confusing speed limit signs causing driver confusion – 1Speed limit sign of 50 km/h during 4 time slots on national highway 1 passing through Khánh Hòa province (Photo: Trung Thi).
“For signs that are damaged or obscured by tree branches, or have small font sizes making it hard for drivers to see, transportation authorities should check and fix them quickly to prevent drivers from being unfairly fined,” Dr. Tạo stated.
The former Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Traffic Safety Committee emphasized that all existing traffic signs guiding road organization need to be reviewed and adjusted to better fit real-world conditions.
Dr. Tạo gave an example: at intersections allowing vehicles to turn right, instead of using text-based signs, they could replace them with green arrow signals.
“In reality, drivers recognize color-coded traffic signals much faster than text-based ones,” Mr. Tạo affirmed.
Reports indicate that many drivers on national highway 1, passing through Khánh Hòa province, encountered speed limit signs of 50 km/h with supplementary information limiting speeds during specific time slots.
These signs were placed along both sides of the road near median openings.
Mr. Nhân, 35, residing in Ho Chi Minh City, said that before these restrictive signs, cars are typically allowed to travel at 90 km/h, so drivers can’t instantly read the detailed information specifying restricted hours to comply accordingly.
According to Mr. Tùng, a long-distance bus driver between Phú Yên and Khánh Hòa, these time-specific speed limit signs were installed earlier this year.
Thus, he suggested that for signs with supplementary information such as text or numbers, they could be replaced with colored electronic arrows.
For instance, in cases where speed limit signs include supplementary information restricting speeds during specific hours, the supplementary details could be replaced with green or red electronic arrows for easier observation by drivers.
Transport expert Nguyễn Văn Thanh, former Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transportation Association, noted that the installation of road traffic signs must follow legal regulations and adhere to circulars and guidelines from the transport sector.
“All traffic signs have specifications for size, font style, and size. If drivers find any issues, they should immediately report them to the management authority for appropriate adjustments,” Mr. Thanh said.
