Traffic police investigate case of fake ambulance caught on highway.

A vehicle resembling an ambulance was unexpectedly found to have illegally installed a priority signaling device while traveling on the Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway. This incident directly relates to a potentially misleading practice that could affect traffic safety and order.

Discovery at a hotspot on the Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway.

According to information from the Traffic Police Department, in the course of executing orders from the Department's leadership, law enforcement officers conducted vehicle inspections at Km95 of the Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway, heading from Hai Phong to Hanoi.

Here, the task force from Team 2 spotted a vehicle exhibiting unusual characteristics. The vehicle, bearing license plate 29G-012.xx (yellow background with white lettering), was equipped with a priority signaling device similar to those used on ambulances, even though it did not belong to the group of vehicles permitted to use such signals.

The vehicle, which wasn't carrying a patient, still had its emergency siren installed.

The inspection revealed that the vehicle was actually a cargo truck. It contained no medical supplies and was not engaged in any emergency medical or rescue mission.

It is noteworthy that the priority signaling device installed on the vehicle belongs to the category of vehicles specifically designed for ambulances, a type of vehicle that is only to be used in special situations and must fully meet the conditions stipulated by law.

Installing this device could mislead drivers, causing them to yield to the wrong people, posing a potential safety risk, especially on highways with high traffic density.

Traffic police officers drew up a report and temporarily confiscated the infringing equipment.

Immediately after verification, the task force proceeded to issue an administrative violation report against the driver. At the same time, the authorities temporarily confiscated all illegally installed priority signaling devices on the vehicle in accordance with proper procedures.

A representative from the Traffic Police Department stated that this is one of the areas that authorities have been intensifying inspections on recently, aiming to tighten control over the misuse of priority signals, which negatively impacts the overall traffic environment.

The penalties are severe, and there are no exceptions.

According to Decree 168/2024, the installation and use of priority signal devices without permission will be subject to a fine of 4 to 6 million VND. In addition, the offending device will be confiscated. This is considered a deterrent penalty aimed at preventing the practice of using priority vehicles for easier access, especially on highways and national roads.

Why is this behavior so upsetting?

In practice, vehicles authorized to use priority signals, such as ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars on urgent duty, are always given priority by the community to ensure timely handling of emergency situations.

When a vehicle that doesn't meet the requirements is still equipped with a siren and flashing lights, this behavior not only violates the law but also erodes public trust. If this situation becomes widespread, road users may become more hesitant to yield, negatively impacting vehicles that are genuinely on emergency duty.

A reminder for road users.

The story of the vehicle that "resembled an ambulance" but was not eligible to display priority signals is a clear reminder: simply adding extra equipment does not automatically grant priority on the road.

New developments in the highway collision: the ambulance was not on emergency duty. Châu Anh11:16:06 19/12/2025The collision involving an ambulance on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway has attracted significant public attention as authorities have determined that the vehicle illegally used its siren and emergency lights, leading to serious consequences.