From January 1, 2022, according to the national regulations, nine-seat (or more) passenger cars and container cargo trucks and tractors without onboard surveillance cameras are severely punished Up to now, the installation of in-cabin cameras on these types of vehicles in the city has been completed to record and store images on the vehicle during the travel process.

Inspectors of the Department of Transport check the installation of cameras on a vehicle at the Da Nang Inter-provincial Coach Station. Photo: THANH LAN

Mr. Nguyen The Hau, the owner of a transport vehicle travelling on the Da Nang - Quang Binh route, said that he grasped an insight into the contents of Decree No. 123/2021/ND-CP dated December 28, 2021 of the national government on the amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the decrees stipulating the sanction of administrative violations in the fields of waterway, roadway railway traffic and civil aviation.

Specifically, businesses that fail to have its vehicles installed with onboard surveillance cameras must face a fine of VND10 - 12 million, 3 times higher than the price of a set of camera equipment.

Besides, the transport vehicles that are not equipped with in-cabin surveillance cameras, when participating in traffic, are fined VND1 - 2 million for drivers and VND5 - 6 million for individuals.

Also, these offending vehicles have their badges revoked for 1 - 3 months.

Transport units must store camera images for at least the nearest 24 hours for vehicles traveling up to 500km and at least 72 hours for vehicles over 500km.

Image data is provided to police authorities, traffic inspectors and licensing agencies to control the driver's activities, prevent overloading and cramming of passengers added.

Mr. Similarly, Mr. Dang Dan, a representative of Khai Hoang Gia bus company running the route Da Nang - Vinh (Nghe An Province) said that installing cameras will bring many benefits to businesses. Camera is an effective solution for remote COVID-19 prevention and control, reminding drivers and passengers to wear masks.

At the same time, transport businesses and competent authorities can monitor the driver’s status such as answering the phone, carrying too many people and driving beyond the specified time.

The installation of surveillance cameras in road transport vehicles aims to ensure the safety and effective management of passengers, drivers, assistant drivers and tour guides, as well as to enhance the quality of services, and build brand names for local transport service providers.

In reality, State management agencies find it easier to easily collect data to handle traffic safety, manage security and order, and help traffic participants monitor themselves.

The installation of in-cabin cameras is a solution to help businesses and drivers feel safe and secure when driving in traffic and performing transportation services.

In addition, surveillance cameras help reduce disorder situations. Thanks to surveillance cameras and vehicle tracking devices, authorities are able to track down many law-breakers.

This is also a solution that contributes greatly as a deterrent to those who intend to violate the law in traffic.

It is known that, currently, the Directorate for Roads of Viet Nam has put into trial a system to process image data from cameras installed on transport business cars to receive data.

In April 2022, the Directorate for Roads of Viet Nam proposed to provide guidance on the use of software for transport managers and traffic inspectors at the provincial Departments of Transport.

When the Ministry of Transport gives a nod to this above-mentioned proposal, the software will officially operate from May 1 to serve the management and sanction of violations.

Mr. Nguyen Tran Hoang, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Da Nang Department of Transport, said that the whole city houses 4,280 vehicles owned by 543 transport units that are required to have onboard cameras installed.

Accordingly, since January 1, the Department Inspector has arranged forces at the Da Nang Inter-provincial Coach Station and the Da Nang International Airport to check the journey monitoring equipment and cameras installed on the vehicles.

In case of detecting that the camera has not been installed or is installed but cannot store images on the vehicle, a reminder will be given.

When checked, almost of the vehicles in Da Nang have so far been equipped with cameras before their departure.

According to Deputy Director in charge of the Da Nang Department of Transport Bui Hong Trung, with this encouraging result, his agency has issued many documents urging the implementation of regulations on installing cameras onboard transport vehicles before the December 31, 2021.

Beyond the time period mentioned above, if any unit fails to comply with the new regulations, those vehicles are not eligible for operating transport services, and they may have their badges revoked.

The municipal Department of Transport has also assigned local transport associations to mobilise transport businesses to strictly comply with the new regulations and it requested its traffic inspector to coordinate with the police force's functional forces to strengthen inspection and strictly handle violations.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by A.THU