A recent tragic road accident in central Vietnam, where a for-hire minibus collided head-on with a container truck, killing 12 wedding guests and the groom, has brought about renewed concerns over the danger of contract vehicles.

The driver of the minibus has been found to be at fault in the crash, having dozed off behind the wheel and lost control of his vehicle, allowing it to veer off course into oncoming traffic in the opposite lane.

He reportedly only had two hours of rest before the long-distance drive, which set off at 11:00 pm and was supposed to last overnight.

“He was the breadwinner of his family,” said Quy, a colleague of the deceased driver. “If he didn’t work day and night, who would put food on the table for his children?”

Accidents caused by drivers falling asleep on the road are not uncommon in Vietnam, especially among those operating for-hire vehicles who tend to drive long hours non-stop to maximize their profit.

According to Le Quoc A., a contract driver, it is common practice for drivers to be on the go right after a client’s phone call, regardless of whether they have had enough sleep to recharge after long rides.

Demands for contract cars between May and August can be four times as much as during the rest of the year, due to the fact that it is the wedding season in Vietnam, he explained.

“My record was transporting five different groups of wedding guests in a day,” A. said.

“If the destination is in another province, I may have to travel 400 to 500 kilometers at a time, making drowsiness a regular issue.”

Vietnamese laws dictate that drivers who operate passenger vehicles must not be behind the wheel for more than four hours straight, and not more than ten hours a day in total, according to Vo Hoai Nam, deputy chief inspector of the transport department of Thua Thien – Hue Province in central Vietnam.

In addition to drivers’ incapacity, vehicles used in contract rides are often unroadworthy and not licensed for commercial use.

Traffic police officers tend not to pull over ‘wedding’ cars for inspection, since they do not want to ruin the family’s happy day, according to a seasoned contract driver with over 15 years of experience.

Even when they are pulled over, contract drivers often claim they are a relative of the passengers and are only doing a favor, making it difficult for officers to book the case, Nam explained.

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