Tests for motorbike driving licenses in Vietnam to be scored by electronic sensors

Several Vietnamese localities will proceed with the new form of testing for A1 driving licenses (for under 175cc motorcycles) and the A2 level (for over 175cc motorcycles), according to the Ministry of Transport’s new regulations, which will come into force on July 1.

Authorities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and the south-central province of Khanh Hoa have been investing in their testing centers that will apply the new automatic scoring system while maintaining the existent examination fee as per the regulations.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the new testing system has been piloted at Tien Bo Driving School in Tan Phu District for A1 and A2 driving licenses, said Nguyen Anh Dung, vice principle of the school.

The pass rate of the new form of examinations is just about 50 percent, while the average of the traditional tests is 80 to 85 percent, according to Dung’s observation.

“I am quite worried about the rather low pass rate. However, this is also considered a way to improve the quality of driving tests in Vietnam,” the vice principle said.

Besides the replacement of the judging board with the underground sensors, other procedures of the examination will be maintained, Dung elaborated.

If test takers make any mistake, the sensors will detect it and the electronic system will automatically read out the fault through a loudspeaker.

The results of the tests will also be announced by the system right after the examinees finish their driving tasks, Dung explained, adding that the whole process will be machine-operated.

It is advisable that test takers practice their driving at local driving schools before the real exam as the lack of practice is the main reason for failure, according to several experts.

Out of 20 testing centers in Ho Chi Minh City, only Tien Bo Driving School has been applying the new testing system in accordance with the schedule set by the Ministry of Transport, said Tran The Ky, deputy director of the municipal Department of Transport.

The enforcement of the regulations has encountered several difficulties that arise from shortages in the supply of the automatic scoring devices, Ky added.

As there is only one manufacturer of the devices, they have been sold at a whopping VND2 billion (US$89,220) per item, he said.

Only a few testing centers in the city are expected to be ready for the new form of tests in July, which might not be enough to offer the tests to motorbike drivers, the official said, adding that the number of test takers in Ho Chi Minh City in 2015 increased by 52 percent compared to that of 2014.

Authorities in the southern city have urged the Ministry of Transport to introduce additional manufacturers of the scoring devices to prevent any inflation of their prices, as well as to adopt suitable solutions to the emerging problems, he added.