Sorting traffic

As many as 12 busy Hanoi streets could be divided into separate lanes for automobiles and two-wheeled vehicles in a pilot project to ease traffic congestion, the municipal Department of Transport said.

Kim Ma, Tran Khat Chan-Dai Co Viet, Giai Phong, Ba Trieu and Pho Hue-Hang Bai streets will be the first to be divided beginning this month.

Deputy director of the department Nguyen Xuan Tan said a concrete median would divide the lanes and traffic lights would be re-installed to guide traffic according to the new regulations.

Tan added that the division of these streets would ease conflicts between vehicle types and improve public awareness about traffic laws.

Hanoi previously implemented a four-lane trial on Kim Ma Street in 2003, Tran Khat Chan-Dai Co Viet Road in 2006 and Giai Phong Road in 2009, but they all failed after a short implementation period.

The high density of vehicles, especially during peak hours, made it difficult for the operators of automobiles, motorbikes and bicycles to determine which of the four lanes available to follow, Tan said.

Thach Nhu Sy, chief inspector of the department, said that a lack of respect for the law among traffic users could be blamed for the failure because drivers were ready to break the law when police were nowhere in sight.

Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People\'s Committee Nguyen Van Khoi said the police would be required to install traffic signals quickly in order to begin implementation of the pilot project later this month.

Those caught driving in the wrong lane would receive high fines or face temporary arrest if necessary. The model would be implemented on other streets if the project was successful after three months, he said.

The division of traffic lanes along three routes has already been implemented along some routes: Noi Bai Airport to the central capital; Hanoi-Hai Phong and Phap Van-Cau Gie.