Viet Nam - A proposal from the Traffic Police Department to stop planting trees on expressway medians and install anti-glare screens instead has sparked a multi-faceted debate, weighing the need for absolute safety against environmental and aesthetic values. This recommendation was issued immediately following a serious multi-vehicle collision on the Phap Van - Ninh Binh Expressway, the initial cause of which was linked to a water tanker truck that was watering plants.
The "Tipping Point": A Multi-Vehicle Collision
On the morning of September 15th, at the Km 222+800 mark on the Phap Van - Ninh Binh Expressway, a four-vehicle pile-up occurred. According to dashcam footage, a limousine crashed into the back of a water tanker that was moving slowly in the fast lane adjacent to the median to water the trees. The incident left at least eight people injured, caused extensive traffic congestion, and raised urgent questions about the safety of maintenance activities on the nation's fastest roadways.
Following the event, Major General Do Thanh Binh, Head of the Traffic Police Department, warned of the traffic safety risks associated with planting trees on medians. He explained that maintenance activities such as fertilizing, pruning, and especially watering, require specialized vehicles to operate in Lane 1 (the fastest lane). This creates a "mobile hazard," posing a significant collision risk for other vehicles traveling at speeds of 80-120 km/h.
Based on this reality, the Traffic Police Department officially proposed that trees should no longer be planted in the central medians of expressways. The recommended alternative is the installation of specialized anti-glare screens.
The Safety Equation: Anti-Glare Screens vs. Trees
The Traffic Police Department's proposal is based on the clear advantages of modern engineering solutions over natural ones.
Advantages of Anti-Glare Screens:
Maximum Safety: They completely eliminate the presence of maintenance vehicles in the high-speed lane, thereby eradicating the risk of similar accidents.
Stable Anti-Glare Efficiency: The screens are designed to precise technical standards to effectively block headlight glare from oncoming traffic at night without obstructing the driver's field of vision.
Durability and Low Maintenance Costs: Typically made from composite materials or galvanized steel, anti-glare screens are highly durable, weather-resistant, and require almost no regular upkeep.
Incident Safety: They remove the risk of trees falling onto the road during storms, another significant danger on expressways.
Meanwhile, maintaining trees on medians, despite their many benefits, comes with considerable risks.
The Undeniable Value of Greenery
For years, planting trees along transportation routes, including on medians, has been seen as a solution that offers multiple synergistic benefits:
Aesthetics and Environment: Trees create a softer landscape, reducing the monotony and "concreting" of traffic infrastructure. They also act as "green lungs," helping to absorb CO2, filter fine dust, and reduce noise from traffic.
Natural Anti-Glare: A well-placed row of trees can serve as a green barrier, naturally and gently blocking the glare from oncoming headlights.
Temperature Reduction: Trees help mitigate the urban heat island effect by lowering the temperature of the asphalt surface, contributing to overall air regulation.
Finding a Harmonious Solution: Safety as the Top Priority
This debate is not new. For several years, opinions have been voiced that maintaining greenery on expressways is too dangerous. However, the accident on the Phap Van - Ninh Binh route has served as a powerful wake-up call, forcing authorities to re-evaluate the issue seriously.
Many transport experts agree that on expressways, where vehicle speeds and traffic volumes are extremely high, safety must be the number one priority. Even a minor risk can lead to tragedy. Shifting to the use of anti-glare screens is a trend that many countries have already adopted to optimize safety and reduce operational costs.
However, this does not mean eliminating green spaces from expressways entirely. Trees can and should still be planted sensibly along the roadside corridors, at a safe distance from the road's edge to ensure they pose no danger if they fall or break.
For now, the Traffic Police Department's proposal will need to be reviewed by relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Transport and expressway management units. This presents an opportunity to reassess all design standards and infrastructure maintenance procedures to find the most optimal solution one that balances the creation of safe, modern roadways with the preservation of sustainable green spaces.
