The department said they were caused by vehicles straddling the wide lanes.

At a meeting with administrators of traffic- online forums and social media pages on Wednesday, Major General Do Thanh Binh, director of the department, said the traffic police would work with local authorities to narrow lanes to end the practice of three cars driving abreast in two lanes.

The width of lanes for motorized vehicles with engines, including cars, is determined by the road class under national technical standards.

Thus, in major urban arterial roads and Class I-city roads lanes are 3.5-3.75 meters wide, on main roads in Class II and III cities they range from 3.25 to 3.5 meters while in side roads and smaller streets they are 2.75-3 meters.

He also said the department would consider reducing the time vehicles involved in accidents are held by the police to increase the transparency in handling speed violations.

“Wherever there is a traffic police officer, there will be signals, and where there are cameras, there will be signs. There is no situation where police are hiding in trees or sitting on electric poles to [apprehend unwary drivers].”