HCMC plans traffic surveillance cameras on 30 routes

Under the plan prepared by the municipal Department of Transport, the city will spend VND168 billion setting up cameras at 40 spots within 2022 and at the remaining 140 spots over the next two years.

In all, 30 routes across the city will have surveillance cameras established, including those in the downtown area, around Tan Son Nhat airport, along several national highways and roads near the Saigon port and industrial parks.

The camera system will detect several violations including breaking red lights, speeding, driving in the wrong lane or direction, parking in the wrong place or breaking regulations on weight and axle load.

The system will incorporate technologies to process images, recognize license plates automatically, and apply artificial intelligence in handling violations. It will also calculate speed, traffic volume, vehicle stopping time, and analyze driving behaviors.

Last year, HCMC recorded more than 62,000 autos violating traffic rules via its surveillance camera system.

In February, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved a VND2.15 trillion ($93 million) project to install traffic surveillance cameras on all national highways and expressways in the country.

The project will be implemented until 2025 using the state budget, private investment and other funding sources.

The surveillance system in Hanoi and HCMC will have added software to warn the cities of traffic jam zones and identify vehicles for supervision, like those that are stolen or involved in hit and run accidents.

Traffic police in both cities will be provided with tablets to serve their street patrol and accident investigation functions.

Once it takes effect, the police will only have the duty of patrolling the streets occasionally, regulating traffic on special occasions, handling traffic jams and dealing with accidents, the project document says.