VietNamNet Bridge – A check on automobile and motorbike driving training centres across the country shows that many are breaking motor regulations they are supposed to enforce.

Learner drivers at a driving school in Kon Tum Province. Many driving training centres have been found to be employing unqualified instructors. (Photo: VNS)

By the end of last year, Viet Nam had 271 car driving training centres to meet the needs of 147,101 trainees and more than 400 motorbike training centres to handle the rivers of would-be drivers.

However, inspection on just 74 driving training centres in nine cities and provinces showed that up to 80 per cent violated regulations.

The Hai Duong Job Promotion Centre in northern Hai Duong City is using 18 cars for learner drivers. The roadworthiness of the vehicles has not been checked periodically as required by law - and more than 20 were out of date, but still in use.

The Quynh Mai Vocational Training Centre in northern Bac Can Province lacks tables, boards and other tools for demonstrating car maintenance. And the yard used for test drives at Thang Long Vocational Training Centre in Ha Noi did not cover the required 1,000sq.m.

But, said Loc, more seriously, many driving training centres employed teachers who did not have proper qualifications.

These included the Thang Long Centre, the Viet Duc Industry College in Ha Noi and the Thai Nguyen Vocational Training Centre in northern Thai Nguyen Province.

Loc blamed loose management by urban and provincial departments of transport for the violations.

He said the punishments for violations were issued in 2002 and were not strict enough.

Loc said the punishments prescribed that centres that enrolled too many trainees would be suspended from their work within three to six months. However, the regulations did not prescribe clearly how many trainees were to be involved.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News