HÀ NỘI — Two car drivers were fined on Monday after they were found driving contrariwise on the Nhật Tân Bridge in a viral video that emerged on social media last week, Hà Nội traffic police said.

Cao Mạnh Cường and Đỗ Vân Hường were fined VNĐ1 million (US$44) and given a two-month driving licence suspension.

Last Thursday, a Facebook user uploaded a clip recorded by a dashboard camera showing his car narrowly avoid an accident with five cars consecutively running contrariwise on the bridge. The driver said he was panic-stricken by the incident.

One of the violated cars carried a blue registration plate, an indication that it belongs to a State-owned agency.

Cường was later identified as the driver of the blue-plated car, which belongs to an agency of the Ministry of Health.

Speaking to the police, Cường admitted his violation, explaining that he wanted to avoid a traffic jam in the bridge, as he was in a rush to pick up a guess at Nội Bài International Airport.

Hường, the other driver, also attributed her violation to the fact that she was in a hurry and that she followed the other cars.

Both pledged not to repeat the violations and apologised to other drivers for their dangerous actions.

Before Cường and Hường, Trịnh Thu Hường from Nam Từ Liêm District received the same punishment.

Lieutenant-colonel Hà Văn Tuân of Trafic Police Team No 2 said that police have already identified the other two drivers and will soon hand out punishments.

Nhật Tân is a cable-stayed bridge crossing the Hồng (Red) River in Hà Nội, forming part of a highway linking the capital city with Nội Bài International Airport. It offers two-way roads with a median barrier dividing the two directions. — VNS