Police in HCM City have begun a campaign to raise awareness about bad-quality helmets, including drivers of electric bicycles, which started on July 1.
Colonel Dao Vinh Thang, head of the traffic police in Hanoi has already pointed out the difficulties for police in inspecting helmets and other safety equipment and give out penalties. "City police will not randomly stop vehicles just to check if their helmets are up to standard. It is the job of police to stop people if they are violating traffic rules," he said.
Another problem with the rule is that it is unclear on whether police have the authority to seize substandard helmets. The concern is that the driver may just buy another cheap helmet.
Also, many consumers complain that it is difficult to tell the quality of helmets being sold. One driver from HCM City said, "I've used this same helmet for years, and still didn't know if it is up to quality. I thought it was fine. The only reason I found out is that police pulled me over and checked."
Traffic police have said that their policy at the moment is to give reprimands for substandard helmets. "Until we have clear directives from higher-ups, this is all we can do," said one officer.
According to the new regulations, violators would be recorded. If they repeat their offense, they would be subject to a fine.
Many drivers use substandard helmets
Traffic officer checks helmet quality
Many university students violate the law
Raising awareness for helmet safety
Reprimanding users of substandard helmets
Names taken down