Proposal for a dash cam that also transmits audio: Concerns about cost

The Ministry of Public Security is seeking comments on a draft Circular regulating the management, operation, and use of the data management system for vehicle tracking devices (GSHT) and devices that record images of car drivers.

The Circular applies to transport businesses, bus stations, GSHT service providers and agencies, organizations and individuals related to GSHT devices and car driver image recording devices nationwide.

GSHT is a device mounted directly on the car, with the function of transmitting the vehicle's journey, speed, driving information, and stopping time.

The driver's image recording device will be mounted directly inside the cockpit, recording videos, images, and sounds related to the driver and transmitting them to the server.

This means that businesses must transmit the driver's audio, instead of just images from the car's camera as before.

The Road Traffic Law 2008 (currently in effect) stipulates that passenger transport vehicles with 9 seats or more and container trucks must be equipped with a GPS tracking device. According to statistics, there are currently about 200,000 commercial transport vehicles in this category nationwide.

However, according to the 2024 Road Law (effective from January 1, 2025), in addition to commercial transport vehicles, internal transport vehicles must also be equipped with a GPS tracking device.

Thus, compared to current regulations, the draft Circular expands the affected subjects, meaning that more than 200,000 cars must be equipped with GSHT devices.

Mr. Do Van Bang, Chairman of the Hanoi Transport Association, said that to implement the above regulation, a car may have to install a new camera costing about VND5.8 million and an additional VND1.2 million for data transmission costs. This will be a large investment for transport businesses.

Speaking further with VietNamNet, Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, supported the new regulations in the draft Circular.

Mr. Quyen expressed: “Regarding the regulation that cameras must have additional audio features, of course it will have a certain effect. However, the extent of the effect must be evaluated specifically through a pilot project and the implementation costs must be considered, including the costs of investing in equipment, transmission lines, and data integration centers...”.

Increased costs for businesses

Notably, the draft Circular stipulates that the frequency of data transmission from the camera to the service unit's server is 30 seconds/transmission.

According to Mr. Quyen, this is an issue that needs further research because the current regulation is to transmit image data at a frequency of 3-5 minutes/transmission. Furthermore, if video data is transmitted at a frequency of 30 seconds/transmission, the amount of data is too large, the cost for this will "increase" a lot.

Another issue that also worries the Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association is that current regulations require cameras to be installed on passenger transport vehicles with 9 seats or more, container trucks, and to transmit data to the server of the service business unit, then continue to transmit from here to the server of the State management agency.

“Cameras installed on commercial transport vehicles must have a certificate of conformity with standards issued by a competent State management agency. Currently, there are two types of cameras: standalone cameras and cameras integrated with GSHT equipment.

Therefore, if the draft continues to stipulate criteria different from current regulations, it needs to be carefully studied, taking into account implementation costs, efficiency as well as transitional regulations for devices in use," Mr. Quyen emphasized.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association recommends that competent authorities summarize and evaluate the results of the implementation of installation, management, exploitation and use of this equipment. On that basis, there is close coordination between management agencies, technologists and representatives of affected subjects to draft a Circular that is suitable for practice, saves costs for businesses but still ensures effective management.