July 2012, issuing and exchanging driving licenses according to new model

Speaking to reporters of the Government Portal, Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen - Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Road Administration said that from July 2, the Vietnam Road Administration and 12 provincial Departments of Transport will receive applications for issuing and exchanging driving licenses according to the new model.

Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Road Administration

PV:As announced, the new driver's license will be put into use from July 2012. So will people officially be able to hold the new driver's license from July 1, 2012, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen -Deputy Director General of Vietnam Road Administration, Ministry of Transport: According to Decision No. 1207/QD-BGTVT dated May 29, 2012 of the Minister of Transport, PET material driving licenses according to the prescribed form will be put into use from July 1, 2012 and applied to the following cases: New issuance, replacement for people whose driving licenses have expired; re-issuance for people whose driving licenses have been lost or damaged. The issued driving licenses will continue to be used according to regulations.
The Vietnam Road Administration and the Departments of Transport have actively prepared conditions for implementation.
Because July 1, 2012 is a Sunday, from July 2, 2012, the Vietnam Road Administration and 12 Departments of Transport will begin receiving applications to issue and exchange driving licenses according to the new model.

PV:Could you please tell us the specific list of 12 Departments of Transport that will receive applications to issue and exchange driving licenses according to the new model together with the Vietnam Road Administration? Why haven’t other localities issued driving licenses according to the new model, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen:Together with the Vietnam Road Administration, 12 Departments of Transport have completed the conditions to start receiving applications for issuing and exchanging driving licenses according to the new model: Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Da Nang, Hai Duong, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Thai Nguyen, Kon Tum and Vinh Phuc.
Other local Departments of Transport have not yet issued or changed driver's licenses according to the new model because they have not fully prepared the equipment and personnel to manage and operate the system.

PV:So are other localities still allowed to issue driving licenses in the old form, sir? Does this lead to difficulties in managing driving licenses, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen:I think that the fact that localities have not yet implemented the issuance and exchange of new driving licenses will also cause certain difficulties in management, but they can be overcome. The most important thing is that they have not yet served the people in a timely manner as well as not yet met the requirements of state management in ensuring traffic order and safety.

PV:So, please tell us the specific roadmap for issuing new driver's licenses. When will the issuance of old driver's licenses be stopped and the new driver's licenses be applied nationwide, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen:The Ministry of Transport has sent a document to localities requesting attention and funding for the Departments of Transport to invest in equipment to serve the issuance and exchange of driving licenses according to the new model.
Currently, the Departments of Transport are actively preparing conditions to issue and exchange driving licenses according to the new model by July 1, 2013 at the latest, as directed by the Ministry of Transport.

New driving license made of PET material

PV:Could you tell us what the current difficulties are in issuing new driver's licenses that have prevented the policy from being implemented nationwide since July 2nd this year?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen:The biggest challenge is investing in equipment to print driving licenses using new technology and manage the driving license database. Each province must invest about 1 billion VND; Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City need to invest 3-4 billion VND.
While some localities have difficulties with funding sources, other localities have funding sources but implement according to Resolution No.11/NQ-CPdated February 24, 2011 of the Government, so it is necessary to consult with competent authorities for resolution.

PV:Reality shows that fake driving licenses of the old model are still quite popular in many localities. What solutions does the Ministry of Transport have to prevent this counterfeiting until the issuance of new driving licenses is implemented nationwide, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen:Along with the renewal of driving licenses, the establishment of a national driving license database, the simple authentication of driving licenses using SMS messages, the establishment of a national electronic information portal on driving licenses will create conditions for agencies and units using drivers to look up information in the recruitment and management of drivers. At the same time, strictly implementing Joint Circular No. 01/2010/TTLT-BCA-BGTVT dated March 3, 2010 between the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Transport regulating the coordination in providing data on registration and inspection of road motor vehicles, data on traffic accidents and the issuance, exchange, revocation, and revocation of the right to use driving licenses, certificates of training in road traffic law knowledge; building a roadmap to change the indefinite driving license according to the current form to the new form will overcome current shortcomings.

PV:Thank you very much!

According to (Chinhphu.vn) - LT