Colonel Nguyen Quang Nhat, Head of the Traffic Accident Guidance, Propaganda, Investigation, and Resolution Department, under the Traffic Police Department, stated that the unit is currently researching and amending Circular 12/2025 of the Ministry of Public Security regarding driver's license testing and issuance. The proposed content is expected to be added to the amended circular.

According to the department, videos of serious traffic accidents will help learners better understand the consequences, thereby fostering greater adherence to traffic laws and caution on the road. A specific timeline for the amended circular's release has not yet been set.

Applicants learning to drive at a training center in Hanoi. Photo: Loc Chung

With the proliferation of security cameras, street surveillance, and especially dashcams, a significant number of accident videos are available. These are often posted on social media platforms or submitted to authorities through connection portals on management apps like VNeID or VNeTraffic. The traffic police can utilize this video resource for training and examination content.

Watching videos is also a common practice in Japan. There, driving schools show applicants videos depicting potential accident scenarios. This provides learners with a more realistic and effective perspective compared to 3D simulated videos.

Requiring applicants to watch accident videos before testing is a measure the Traffic Police Department plans to add. This aims to ensure that licensed drivers possess not only skills but also a strong sense of awareness and responsibility when operating a vehicle.

The department believes that current driver training and testing content does not align with real-world conditions. Specifically, the current road test covers a short distance, only sufficient for basic maneuvers such as signaling, accelerating, or decelerating. This does not fully reflect actual traffic situations. Furthermore, current testing still heavily emphasizes vehicle control techniques, without adequately focusing on situational handling skills and driver awareness.

From 1/3/2025, national traffic police will begin taking over duties related to organizing tests and issuing driver's licenses for automobiles; renewing and reissuing licenses; and issuing international driver's licenses. These responsibilities are being transferred from the Department of Roads, formerly under the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction).

By Pham Hai