Vietnam has recently implemented new regulations aimed at improving the quality and safety of driving school operations across the country. These regulations set forth stringent requirements for educational and technical facilities involved in driver training, highlighting the government's commitment to enhancing road safety.
According to the Ministry of Transport, driving schools can be categorized as enterprises, cooperatives, or educational institutions. To lead these establishments, the appointed head must be someone with either the title of principal or director, fully responsible for managing the operations of the driving school. This person must also hold at least a college degree and have completed training related to vocational educational management.
Newly established guidelines also stress the importance of qualified instructors. Each driving school is required to have theorists and practical driving teachers who meet defined standards. The ratio of instructors must align with the number of training vehicles used, ensuring adequate training for students. This reflects the growing need for high-quality education for future drivers, particularly as traffic volume continues to soar.
On the infrastructure side, the regulations mandate significant specifications. Every driving school must maintain lawful facility space of at least 1,000 square meters. The classrooms supporting these facilities must comply with certain standards as well. For example, theory classrooms shouldn’t be smaller than 48 square meters and need to include teaching aids covering traffic laws, driving ethics, and emergency response protocols. Practically oriented classrooms are required to possess information technology aids for teaching vehicle technical knowledge and must contain hands-on practice equipment ranging from vehicle engines to practical driving cabins.
Another key point addressed by the regulations concerns the types and conditions of training vehicles. Schools must provide various vehicle categories aligning with the licenses they are authorized to issue. For training category B licenses, for example, schools can utilize both automatic and manual gearshift vehicles, ensuring students get comprehensive training aligned with legal stipulations. Importantly, vehicles used for practical training must be equipped with dual control features for safety reasons, along with appropriate signage indicating their instructional role.
Driving schools are also tasked with establishing adequate practical training grounds. Each facility must include space for practice driving, and the area must comply with prescribed national standards concerning layout and equipment. The stipulated maximum ratio is one practice area for every 1,000 students. There's an emphasis on creating safe training environments, ensuring features such as drainage to prevent flooding and surfaces marked with clear road signs for teaching purposes.
This initiative has been welcomed as necessary due to the increasing number of vehicles and the corresponding rise of traffic accidents. By standardizing training conditions, authorities aim to lower accident rates and produce more competent drivers over time. Notably, the Ministry of Transport stated, "The driving school must meet the minimum facility requirements to provide effective training," reflecting their recognition of safety standards.
With these new regulations, Vietnam is taking significant steps to overhaul the way driving schools operate. It marks the beginning of what is expected to yield measurable improvement not only in driving education but also overall driver proficiency on the roads. The regulations not only set the framework for educational quality but also articulate the broader mission of enhancing public safety. Responsiveness to these technical and educational needs trends closely with global practices, delivering on expectations for faster and safer transportation networks.
The involvement of multiple ministries, including the Ministry of Education and Training, reflects the comprehensive oversight of this initiative. They underscored the importance of qualified instructors stating, "Driving instructors must have the appropriate qualifications to teach both theory and practical skills." This commitment speaks volumes about the collaborative efforts being made to equip future generations of drivers with the knowledge necessary to navigate Vietnam's roads safely.
Overall, these new regulations stand to transform Vietnamese driving education, injecting rigor and sophistication. While some challenges lie ahead, especially concerning compliance, the benefits of safer streets and well-trained drivers can fundamentally improve the country's approach to road safety.
