Suddenly, the driver-side door of a white car swung open, hitting the motorbike and throwing it into a black car stopped nearby.

The driver of the black car then joined the fallen motorcyclist to call on the person responsible to step out of the car and address the situation.

Instead, when the traffic light turned green moments later, the white car's driver simply drove off and fled the scene.

The entire hit-and-run incident was captured by the dashcam of another vehicle.

An accident caused by an opening car door on Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street in HCMC, March 14, 2025. Video by Van Tri

Vietnamese regulations impose strict penalties for negligent car door handling in traffic. Under Decree 168/2024, opening a car door or leaving it open in a way that endangers others can result in a fine ranging from VND4 million to 6 million (US$152-$228).

If this careless action directly leads to a traffic accident, the financial penalty increases to between VND20 million and 22 million.

Safety guidelines recommend opening the door slightly, about 15 cm, while continuing to observe approaching traffic in the rearview and side mirrors. The door should only be fully opened when it is clearly safe to do so.

Traffic authorities stress that drivers involved in any collision are legally required to stop and resolve the situation. Fleeing the scene of an accident can lead to more severe legal and criminal consequences.