People will be allowed to record traffic violations for the first time, in an attempt to increase road safety awareness.

This is in accordance with a new government decree that takes effect in August.

Traffic police will verify the violations recorded by the people and then punish the violators.

The new decree seeks to enhance the close links between citizens and local authorities, helping people to have more say in law enforcement, an official of the Directorate for Road of Vietnam said.

Traffic police have installed surveillance cameras on some roads, but cannot monitor all violations. With the support of local residents, traffic offences will be detected and settled more quickly, the official said.

Lawyer Pham Hong Son, head of Pham Son Law Office, said this was a positive measure and would help increase people’s awareness about traffic laws and their compliance.

“The society will become better when all people share the responsibility of supervising traffic violations in particular and law violations in general as nobody wants their mistakes recorded,” Son told the Economics and Urban newspaper.

People who record a traffic offence can report the incident to local traffic offices or contact the Traffic Police Department via hotline 069.2342608 or email: tccs-c67@vnn.vn.

The identity of the person informing the traffic police will be kept confidential.

Under Decree 46/2016/NĐ-CP, recently issued by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, stricter fines will be imposed for some traffic violations to ensure road and rail traffic safety.

Accordingly, the penalty for driving with blood alcohol exceeding 80mg per 100ml of blood, or 0.4mg per litre of breath, will be increased from VNĐ10 million-VNĐ15 million ($445-670) to VNĐ16 million-VNĐ18 million ($710-800).

The driving licences of those who are found with drugs in their system will be revoked for 22 to 24 months or they will be fined VNĐ16 million-VNĐ18 million if they do not have a driving licence or it has already been suspended.

The decree also introduces a new regulation under which those who steer their vehicles with their feet will incur a fine of VNĐ7 million-VNĐ8 million ($310-360).

The same penalty will apply to speeding and reckless driving.

Violators who refuse to stop their vehicles following a police order or cause road accidents will face a penalty of VNĐ18 million-VNĐ20 million (up to $880).

VNS