New regulations on driver age

According to the investigation of Giao thong Newspaper reporters, the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety (TTATGT) passed by the National Assembly on June 27, effective from January 1, 2025, stipulates: People aged 16 and over are allowed to drive motorbikes.

People aged 18 years or older are granted a driver's license (GPLX) of class A1, A, B1, B, C1, and are granted a certificate of training in road traffic law to drive specialized motorbikes on the road.

In which, class A1 is granted to drivers of two-wheeled motorbikes with a cylinder capacity of up to ^125cm3 or an electric motor capacity of up to 11 kW;

Class A is granted to drivers of two-wheeled motorbikes with a cylinder capacity of over ^125cm3 or an electric motor capacity of over 11 kW and the types of vehicles specified for Class A1 driving license.

Class B1 is granted to drivers of three-wheeled motorbikes and vehicles specified for Class A1 driving licenses.

Class B is granted to drivers of passenger cars with up to 8 seats (excluding the driver's seat); trucks and special-purpose cars with a total designed weight of up to 3,500 kg; types of cars specified for Class B driving licenses that pull trailers with a total designed weight of up to 750 kg.

Class C1 is granted to drivers of trucks and specialized vehicles with a total designed weight of over 3,500kg to 7,500kg; types of trucks specified for Class C1 driving licenses with trailers with a total designed weight of up to 750kg; types of vehicles specified for Class B driving licenses.

People aged 21 and over are granted a class C and BE driving license. Class C is granted to drivers of trucks and special-purpose vehicles with a total designed weight of over 7,500 kg; types of trucks specified for class C driving licenses pulling trailers with a total designed weight of up to 750 kg; types of vehicles specified for class B and class C1 driving licenses.

Class BE is granted to drivers of vehicles specified for Class B driving licenses pulling trailers with a total designed weight of over 750kg.

People aged 24 years or older are granted driving licenses of classes D1, D2, C1E, CE. Of which, class D1 is granted to drivers of passenger cars with more than 8 seats (excluding the driver's seat) to 16 seats (excluding the driver's seat), passenger cars specified for class D1 driving licenses pulling trailers with a total designed weight of up to 750kg; vehicles specified for class B, C1, C driving licenses.

Class D2 is granted to drivers of passenger cars (including buses) with more than 16 seats (excluding the driver's seat) to 29 seats (excluding the driver's seat), passenger cars specified for Class D2 driving licenses pulling trailers with a total designed weight of up to 750kg; vehicles specified for Class B, C1, C, D1 driving licenses.

Class C1E is granted to drivers of types of cars specified for Class C1 driving licenses pulling trailers with a total designed weight of over 750kg.

Class CE is granted to drivers of types of cars specified for Class C driving licenses pulling trailers with a total designed weight of over 750kg; tractors pulling semi-trailers;

People aged 27 years or older are granted driving licenses of classes D, D1E, D2E, DE. Of which, class D is granted to drivers of passenger cars (including buses) with more than 29 seats (excluding the driver's seat); sleeper cars; passenger cars specified for class D driving licenses pulling trailers with a total designed weight of up to 750kg; vehicles specified for class B, C1, C, D1, D2 driving licenses.

Class D1E is granted to drivers of types of cars specified for Class D1 driving licenses pulling trailers with a total designed weight of over 750kg;

Class D2E is granted to drivers of types of cars specified for Class D2 driving licenses pulling trailers with a total designed weight of over 750kg;

Class DE is granted to drivers of types of cars specified for Class D driving licenses pulling trailers with a total designed weight of over 750kg; passenger cars with attached carriages.

Notably, the 2024 Road Traffic Safety Law has increased the maximum age of drivers of passenger cars (including buses) with more than 29 seats (excluding the driver's seat) and sleeper cars to 57 years old for men and 55 years old for women.

Compared with current regulations in the 2008 Road Traffic Law, the maximum age for women increases by 5 years and for men increases by 2 years.

Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, said that increasing the maximum age for drivers (for passenger vehicles with more than 29 seats, excluding the driver's seat, and sleeper buses) is appropriate because compared to before, the health conditions of Vietnamese people have improved.

On the other hand, nowadays, cars have applied many new technologies, the working conditions of drivers are also less difficult. Recently, transportation companies have reported that drivers who are still healthy but due to age restrictions of the law, are not allowed to change their driving licenses to drive vehicles with 30 seats or more (including the driver's seat) but have not reached retirement age, and when applying for another job, they are over 50 - 55 years old, so it is very difficult to find a job. While businesses need drivers, recruiting new employees is also very difficult.

Driving time not to exceed 48 hours per week

Article 64 on working hours of drivers of automobiles engaged in transport business and internal transport of the Law on Road Traffic Safety still maintains the regulation that the driving time of automobile drivers shall not exceed 10 hours in a day; driving continuously shall not exceed 04 hours and shall ensure relevant provisions of the Labor Code as prescribed in the Law on Road Traffic 2008.

However, the 2024 Road Traffic Safety Law adds a regulation that a driver's working time does not exceed 48 hours in a week.

Transport business units, internal transport operating units and drivers of transport business and internal transport vehicles must be responsible for implementing the above regulations.

In addition, the Law also stipulates: Drivers participating in road traffic must be of age and in good health as prescribed by law; have a valid driving license with remaining points and appropriate to the type of vehicle being driven, issued by a competent authority, except for motorbike drivers as prescribed.