Authorities in the southern province of Dong Nai have required traffic police and relevant departments to penalize those people who play Pokémon Go while driving.

Tran Van Vinh, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, on Friday acknowledged an increasing number of traffic violation cases related to the viral game.

Accordingly, many Vietnamese ‘hunters’ tend to play Pokémon Go while driving on the street, leading to a high risk of traffic accidents and congestion.

The mobile game is dangerous not only to drivers but also to others because players must move frequently and mainly focus on the phone screen even when they are driving.

This seriously jeopardized drivers’ safety and hinders their ability to concentrate, as new creatures can pop up whenever on their mobile phones when they move in the real world.

Following the requirement from the Dong Nai authorities, local police have started patrolling more frequently and penalizing those drivers who violate traffic rules while playing the game.

Meanwhile, authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have also run electronic signs that read, “Do not play Pokémon Go while driving,” on some crowded streets.

According to news website VietNamNet, under the current law, those who use a mobile phone while driving a car will be fined VND600,000 (US$30) to VND800,000 ($40).

The fine is from VND100,000 to VND200,000 for motorcycle and bicycle riders.

Pokémon Go, a game developed by Nintendo and Niantic Labs, has attracted a surprisingly huge number of players thanks to its highly interactive functions.

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