Controversy Surrounding Proposal to Use Audio Dashcams by Ministry

A draft circular proposed by the MPS is soliciting feedback on the regulation of data management encompassing dashcams and drivers’ image recordings.

Upon approval, this circular will be enforced across transport companies, coach stations, monitoring service providers, and relevant individuals and organizations nationwide.

Dashcams are electronic devices installed in vehicles to record and transmit information such as routes, speed, driving behavior, and stoppages.

Driver’s image recording equipment placed inside the vehicle cabin captures videos, images, and audio related to the driver, subsequently sending this data to servers.

As a result, besides visual footage, transport companies will now be transmitting drivers’ audio recordings as well.

According to the 2008 Road Traffic Law, passenger transport firms with vehicles seating nine passengers or more, along with container vehicles, are mandated to have dashcams. The estimated 200,000 passenger transport vehicles nationwide will fall under the purview of the new circular.

However, the forthcoming 2024 Road Traffic Law mandates the inclusion of dashcams in internal transport vehicles in addition to transport service companies.

This extension implies that the draft circular will encompass a broader range of subjects requiring mandatory dashcam installation totaling more than 200,000 vehicles.

The proposed regulation has stirred concerns within the industry. Hanoi Transport Association chair Do Van Bang pointed out the significant additional costs for transport companies, estimated at VND5.8 million for a new camera and VND1.2 million for data transmission per unit.

On the other hand, Vietnam Automobile Transport Association chair Nguyen Van Quyen supported the MPS proposal while emphasizing the importance of evaluating implementation costs, including expenses on devices, data transmission, and integration center.

The draft circular specifies a data transmission frequency of 30 seconds per transmission from the camera to the service unit’s server compared to the current requirement of 3-5 minutes per transmission.

Quyen cautioned that the proposed higher frequency would lead to a significant increase in data volume, necessitating higher costs for transport companies.

Quyen stressed the need for the regulatory agency to pre-assess the financial implications of complying with the proposed regulations and review its potential impacts.