A Grab car is seen in HCMC. Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The asserted that the installation of roof light boxes for tech-based ride-hailing vehicles like Grab cabs is necessary

The regulation on the installation of roof light boxes for e-charter automobiles with fewer than nine seats is aimed at managing transport business operations, enabling customers to identify ride-hailing cars on the street and differentiating between a transport service provider and a supplier of other services, The said.

Besides this, the ministry explained that the installation of roof light boxes will prevent private vehicles from providing transport services illegally, which could cause difficulties for traffic police in inspections, control and urban traffic organization.

The regulation will create a fair business environment for traditional cabs and app-based taxis, The added.

The regulation has received the nod from the Automobile Association Vietnam, the Hanoi Taxi Association, the Danang Taxi Association, the HCMC Taxi Association, some departments of transport and major taxi enterprises, according to the Ministry of Transport.

The ministry noted that the regulation is one of the most complicated regulations.

Prior to this draft, the ministry had submitted the draft eight times since 2016, but the regulation has still not been passed.

As such, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung had earlier asked the Ministry of Transport to carefully research the regulation on the installation of roof light boxes for e-charter automobiles with fewer than nine seats.

Apart from this, the ministry was also asked to focus on passengers’, drivers’ and owners’ feedbacks when considering the installation of light boxes on the roofs of vehicles. SGT

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