Black boxes ordered for heavy trucks, coaches

The Transport Ministry has ordered the installation of a "black box" aboard heavy trucks and coaches from July next year.

The decision follows the successful trial of a "black box" on a coach travelling from Ha Noi to northern Lang Son Province.

The device helped detect driver transgressions.

The "black box" records the vehicle\'s speed, when its doors open and close as well as its route.

The technical data it provides will help police understand the causes of traffic accidents with information about speed and braking.

The Public Security Ministry\'s General Police Department chief Cao Xuan Hong said "data" from the "black box" would be used to both punish traffic violations and investigate the cause of traffic accidents.

The "black box" is linked to a satellite and the data will be transmitted via the Internet to authorised agencies to monitor.

Put off the road

Deputy Transport Minister Le Manh Hung said the device was easily installed and the Ha Noi-Lang Son trial showed it was highly secure and drivers could not interfere with it.

The ministry would now work with the relevant ministries and agencies to issue a decree guiding the instalment of the device this month so it could be installed in all coaches and trucks on schedule, he said.

Coaches and trucks without the "black box" would be put off the road and registry offices would not grant certificates for these vehicles.

Heavy trucks and coaches travelling routes of 500km and upwards will be required to carry device as of next July; the deadline for vehicles travelling routes of 300km upwards is July, 2012.

The cost of the "black box" and its installation has yet to be revealed.

Truck driver Nguyen Thanh Nam said that although he did not have any information about the "black box" he was willing to install the device as required. "I will install it to avoid being punished," he said.