Only in Vietnam: Drivers show off fire extinguishers outside their cars

VietNamNet Bridge – Many drivers in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces ‘display’ a fire extinguisher on the roof or the side of their cars to show traffic police officers that their cars are have a fire extinguisher under the latest rules.

VietNamNet Bridge – Many drivers in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces ‘display’ a fire extinguisher on the roof or the side of their cars to show traffic police officers that their cars are have a fire extinguisher under the latest rules.

Car owners across the country have been hot under the collar in recent days after the government required them to equip their vehicles with fire extinguishers.

Drivers who fail to do so will be fined between VND300,000 and VND500,000 (US$13.30 to $22.20) but those abiding by the rule are worried whether it is safe to put an extinguisher in their cars.

The Ministry of Public Security issued the regulation starting January 6 which aims at mitigating damage to vehicles in case of a fire. And the regulation is not new, as it is done in many other countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Belgium and Poland.

Truong Minh Hoang, who is a friend of mine living in Singapore, said there was no rule that requires drivers to equip their vehicles with fire extinguishers in Singapore but the local Government still advised residents to do so for their safety. But he wondered whether the regulation be applied in Vietnam.

First of all, the cost can keep some car owners from buying an extinguisher. A cheap extinguisher used to cost around VND90,000, but since the rule was announced, prices have jumped to near VND350,000.

Also, the proliferation of low-quality fire extinguishers in the market, coupled with severe weather conditions in Vietnam, poses a high risk for drivers when putting the equipment in their cars, Hoang said.

Deputy Head of the ministry's Department of Fire Prevention and Control Doan Huu Thang said that any new policy or legal document usually receives negative feedback when first put into practice.

"It is more important to look at the real purpose of the regulation, which is to ensure the safety of both life and property. We will find ways to gradually deal with any shortcomings that are found," he said. However, this might not be enough to make car owners feel secure.