Many Vietnamese lawmakers, experts, and residents have voiced an objection to a proposal to make dashcams mandatory on motorbikes, which was included in a draft law on road traffic.

Pursuant to the bill which was put on the agenda of the ongoing lawmaking National Assembly’s sixth sitting, dashcams must be installed on all motor vehicles, including motorcycles and scooters.

NA deputy Dang Bich Ngoc from Hoa Binh Province in northern Vietnam suggested reviewing the proposal as it seems unfeasible.

The proposed legislation may cause waste and difficulties for residents, especially those in remote areas.

She advised applying the regulation to some kinds of vehicles, specifically those used in transport business. 

NA deputy Dieu Huynh Sang from southern Binh Phuoc Province informed that the country had more than six million cars and 73 million motorbikes as of June this year.

In many developed countries, residents do not need to install dashcams to prove that they do not violate regulations. Management agencies will instead have to prove vehicle owners’ violations to sanction them.

No country requires motorbike owners to install dashcams on their vehicles, Sang added.

The equipment installation requirement may go against citizens’ privacy rights. The addition of dashcams would intervene in vehicles’ electrical systems, posing a high risk of electrical issues.

It is not to mention such addition may require management, data transmission, and storage apps, demanding that users pay fees.

As a result, dashcams should be mandatory on vehicles used in transport business only.

As for personal autos and motorbikes, their owners should be encouraged to install the equipment. The installation should not be made compulsory, the deputy noted. 

NA deputy Huynh Thi Phuc from Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, shared Sang’s view, saying that the number of motorbikes in Vietnam is huge. It will be hard to control dashcams if the regulation comes into effect.

It will also place a burden on vehicle owners, she added.

According to Nguyen Van Quyen, chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transportation Association, no country in the world has forced motorbike owners to install dashcams on their vehicles.

He voiced his concern over the durability of dashcams when they are installed on motorbikes given the weather in Vietnam.

With over six million cars on the road, only around one million used in transport business have dashcams. However, the processing and use of data from these dashcams have shown many shortcomings.

Therefore, the job will be enormous with over 70 million motorbikes, alongside the costs for the installation and operation of database management systems.

He suggested scrapping the proposal or assigning the government to make a more specific plan with a pilot period and a clear roadmap.

Dr. Chung Thanh Tien, an economic expert in Ho Chi Minh City, said residents have faced multiple difficulties in the recent past. A new cost will make life harder for them.

Therefore, central agencies should clarify the purposes and effectiveness of the regulation in ensuring traffic safety.

He suggested adding surveillance cameras along streets and in urban areas.

Nguyen Tien Luat, a resident of Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, said that the proposal will help improve the management of vehicles but it is not feasible and appropriate to the reality.

Motorbikes are popular due to their low costs. Most laborers in Vietnam use them in their daily life.

If they are forced to install dashcams, many of them may not follow the rule or install low-quality ones.

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