Deputy Minister of Transport Lê Đình Thọ. VNA/VNS Photo

December 31, 2021 is the deadline for transport businesses to install surveillance cameras on service vehicles. However, many transport associations have proposed to delay this deadline because of difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Deputy Minister of Transport Lê Đình Thọ talks to Vietnam News Agency about the matter.

There is only one month left for transport businesses to install surveillance camera equipment in service vehicles. Can you share your view on the proposal of many local transport associations to delay the deadline?

The Ministry of Transport’s view is to strictly implement Decree 10/2020/ND-CP on business and conditions for transportation business; in which, there are regulations that nine-seat (or more) passenger cars and container cargo trucks, tractors must have cameras installed to record and store images on the vehicle during the travel process.

Recently, businesses in general and transport businesses in particular are all subjects to the Government's support policies, including Resolution 105/2021/NQ-CP on supporting businesses, cooperatives and household businesses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I think we all have to strictly follow the Government's policy to require transport businesses to install cameras according to Decree 10/2020/ND-CP.

The above regulation should have been implemented from July 1, 2021, but in order to remove and reduce difficulties for businesses, the Government has issued many support policies for businesses such as: reducing road traffic fees, road maintenance fees, and taxes.

In particular, the deadline for installing cameras was also extended by the Government for six months to December 31, 2021. That means, during this period of six months, authorities will not impose fines on businesses that have not installed surveillance cameras. This period is enough for businesses to install surveillance cameras on their service vehicles.

At this point, there is only one month left. The view of the Ministry of Transport is that all businesses strictly comply with the requirement. Recent practice shows that businesses that have installed surveillance cameras can manage their vehicles and traffic safety.

The installation of surveillance cameras helps state management agencies easily collect data to handle traffic safety, manage security and order, and help traffic participants monitor themselves.

The Government has considered carefully, considered the impact factors of the COVID-19 pandemic on transport businesses and then extended the deadline to six months later. Therefore, there is no reason for us to delay this requirement further.

Recently, the Ministry of Transport also issued many documents urging and directing the Directorate of Road, departments of transport to coordinate with businesses in deploying the installation of surveillance cameras.

Currently, there are more than 200,000 vehicles in the country, but by the end of November 2021, only more than 25,000 vehicles have installed surveillance cameras, accounting for around 12 per cent.

However, since the end of November, after the Directorate of Road worked with local departments of transport, the installation speed has been accelerated.

According to the assessment of authorities and traffic experts, the installation of surveillance camera equipment is of great significance in the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic. What is your opinion?

In the process of directing COVID-19 prevention and control activities in the field of transportation, the Ministry of Transport realised that the installation of surveillance camera equipment is of great significance.

Specifically, through surveillance cameras, authorities were able to better monitor drivers in pandemic prevention and control, especially the issuing of tracing and medical declarations. In the context of the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, the acceleration of the installation of surveillance cameras must be done more urgently.

This 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 were 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.

There are concerns about social waste because many businesses have installed monitoring devices and surveillance cameras before. However, according to the latest standards, many devices have to be replaced. How can we solve this problem?

The Ministry of Transport’s view is to create the most favourable conditions to support businesses. However, surveillance cameras installed according to the new requirements must meet criteria and standards set by legal documents and regulations of specialised agencies.

Specifically, that device must be able to connect and transmit data to the server of the authorities. Cameras' sharpness and scanning ability must meet the set standards. Therefore, enterprises must carry out a review and replace substandard devices.

Previously, the installation of surveillance cameras on vehicles was spontaneous, each enterprise installed a different model and there was no uniform standard. Therefore, when there are legal documents on this issue, businesses must review to have a roadmap for implementation.

For example, if an enterprise has 100 service vehicles, but due to difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the enterprise will need to prioritise the installation of 50 per cent of their vehicles or more depending on their financial situation.

When the pandemic is completely controlled, the enterprise can continue to install cameras on the remaining vehicles. Authorities only impose administrative violations after December 31, 2021 for vehicles traveling on the road.

The object of the installation of surveillance camera equipment is very specific, which are the service vehicles participating in the traffic, so businesses must calculate the efficiency to install cameras for active vehicles first.

The Government, when issuing Decree 10/2020/ND-CP, has provided a plan for businesses to be prepared. Businesses need to seriously comply with the provisions of the law that have been issued. If the law is not followed, it will create a bad precedent in not strictly enforcing the law. — VNS