The digital breathalyser
Dang Viet Dung, Director of Uber Vietnam, said the firm had signed a long-term contract with the National Committee for Traffic Safety on the provision of the service.
Uber will provide around 30 pubs and restaurants in Hanoi and HCM City with alcohol testing kiosks from mid-September. People will use straws to blow into a digital breathalyser, which automatically order a car if they are found to have consumed over the recommended alcohol limit.
A number of restaurants and pubs will be provided with a VND5 million account to call taxis for drunk customers. This service is expected to help reduce traffic accidents in Hanoi and HCM City.
After initial complaints by jealous rivals about supposed regulatory violations, Uber Taxi has also been legally recognised.
Several experts said traditional taxi services would have to change in the face of tough, consumer-focused competition. Uber’s taxi fares are only VND5,000 (24 US cents) per km for a four-seat car, 45% cheaper than most traditional taxi services.