At the start of the new school year, while many families chose to buy electric bicycles or motorbikes for their children’s convenience in commuting to school, Lò Thị Lan from Co Pao hamlet, Thanh Nưa commune, decided instead to buy her child a bicycle. She believed that a bicycle was both safe and easy to use, and more appropriate for her child’s age.

In contrast to her decision, many parents now opt for electric bicycles for their children as early as lower secondary school. As a result, a large number of students under 16 years old ride electric bikes, and some even operate motorbikes. Unfortunately, there have already been many collisions and accidents, most of which occurred because the students lacked sufficient skills to handle situations, while the speed and functions of electric bikes exceeded their ability to control.

When motor vehicles are entrusted to teenagers who are impulsive and not yet mature enough to manage them safely, negative consequences are almost inevitable. The desire to show off, the thrill-seeking mentality, combined with a lack of parental supervision, has become “fuel” for reckless behavior, disregarding both the law and the lives of themselves and others.

In the early hours of July 13, 2025, a group of teenagers gathered, riding motorbikes recklessly through several streets while carrying weapons, before being stopped by the provincial traffic police. Alarmingly, some of them were only 13 years old, an age far below the legal threshold for operating motorbikes. N.V.P., a parent from Mường Thanh ward, expressed regret: “I never imagined my child would do such a thing. I thought giving him the bike meant he would only use it to go to school or nearby. Now that this has happened, I truly regret it.”

This incident is not merely the violation of a few individuals but a wake-up call to the whole community, exposing gaps in supervision by families, schools, and authorities.

Under current regulations, individuals aged 16 and above may drive electric motorbikes and mopeds with an engine capacity under 50 cm³ without needing a license. This has led many parents to mistakenly believe that giving such vehicles to their children is completely legal and unrestricted.

In reality, however, the law has specific provisions regarding responsibility. Anyone who entrusts a vehicle to someone under 16 years old will be fined from VND 800,000 to 2,000,000. If a motorcycle or motorbike is handed over to someone not old enough to drive it, the fine is even higher, from VND 8,000,000 to 10,000,000.

These regulations show that the law does not leave a loophole in the management of electric bikes or low-capacity motorbikes. On the contrary, it imposes specific restrictions to prevent negligence in entrusting vehicles to underage drivers. Administrative fines ranging from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dong are not simply economic penalties but serve as a deterrent, reminding parents to think carefully before making what may seem like a small decision. A moment of leniency from adults can lead to unpredictable consequences, threatening the safety, lives, and future of their children.

The problem is that many parents, either through ignorance or disregard of the rules, have enabled these violations. Their carelessness unintentionally puts their children at risk and creates broader consequences for society.

In response, law enforcement has stepped up inspections and is strictly handling violations. Senior Captain Trần Thanh Tùng of Road Traffic Police Team No.1 under the provincial Traffic Police Division, underlined: “To ensure traffic order and safety, in the coming time we will adjust our patrol schedules to put an end to reckless driving by teenagers, especially those not old enough to operate vehicles.”

However, the efforts of the authorities can only be truly effective with the cooperation of families. Above all, parents must raise their awareness, properly understand and strictly comply with legal regulations regarding age and responsibility when entrusting vehicles to their children. Each parent must act as the first “gatekeeper,” refusing to sacrifice safety for convenience or indulgence, and ensuring their children are not placed in dangerous situations.