To date, more than 80,000 vehicles have used the Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway that opened to traffic on Wednesday, February 3.

Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway (Photo:Sggp)

There have also been 20 cases of punctures and engine failures on an expressway where the stopping of vehicles for repair is forbidden.

The problem is that there is no agency taking responsibility for assessing the quality of vehicles that get on the expressway.

Currently most vehicles are running at speeds of 50-70km/h. Truck driver Nguyen Quang Thong said that he drives at about 65km/h because he is afraid of getting a puncture on the highway.

The expressway has a maximum speed limit of 100km per hour and a minimum limit of 60km per hour. Only high-speed, motorized vehicles are permitted to drive on the road.

“According to the regulation, automobiles are not allowed to stop to repair or change tyres on the expressway. Rescue vehicles and ambulances will arrive at the spot to take damaged vehicles out of the road” said Nguyen Huy Thao, Director of the expressway management center.

Once work on the remaining 15 or so components of the expressway are completed, the maximum speed limit will be raised to 120km per hour.

Very small traffic signs placed at unsuitable positions are not easy to see and the road has many slight bumps on the surface, drivers have said.