Need to strictly handle the type of car sharing and car sharing

Appearing since 2019-2020, the type of carpooling, carpooling, and carpooling has developed strongly due to its convenience in terms of time and pick-up and drop-off points. Up to now, this type continues to compete unfairly with the transportation and travel market in the city.

Carpooling and carpooling have had a major impact on traditional transportation businesses. Photo: CHIEN THANG

Many ways to deal with inspection and supervision by authorities

To learn more about the operation methods of vehicle owners who are operating passenger and cargo transport businesses in the form of carpooling, carpooling, and shared cars, a reporter from Da Nang Newspaper acted as a passenger to learn about this service. During about 2 hours of waiting for a car (from 13-15 hours) at the intersection of Hoang Van Thai - Ton Duc Thang, there were about 10 4-7 seat cars inviting passengers to Quang Nam , Quang Ngai, Thua Thien Hue... For the distance from Da Nang city to the center of Hue city (Thua Thien Hue province), the fare offered was from 120,000-150,000 VND/trip.

After that, the reporter got on the white-plate car number 75A-265... at Ton Duc Thang street to go to Hue city. When getting on the car, the owner picked up some passengers at various locations in the city. Even though the passengers were already seated, if there were any, the owner would still "cram" more people in. According to the owners, they could make 3-4 trips a day, and on holidays, they would increase to 5-7 trips. On average, after deducting costs such as fuel, phone bills, and maintenance, the owner earned from 500,000 VND to more than 1 million VND per trip. The owner also guided customers to join some groups on social networks to conveniently pick up the car when needed. According to observations, every day, on groups and forums, there will be dozens of posts, messages announcing trips, and phone numbers inviting customers to book in advance for pick-up.

Some passengers said that to avoid traffic police and traffic inspectors' inspections, vehicle owners have many ways such as: transferring passengers by motorbike to the gathering point; requiring passengers to cooperate and answer questions when asked by management forces... The activities of carpooling, carpooling, and shared cars often occur, causing many fixed bus companies to face difficulties due to the decrease in the number of passengers. Mr. Phan Long Nhat, owner of a Da Nang - Hue bus company, said that currently, his number of passengers is only 50-70% compared to before 2021. Part of the reason, according to him, is due to people limiting travel, and partly due to competition from many carpooling, carpooling, and shared cars operating vigorously. He really hopes that competent authorities will manage and control this type of vehicle to create a healthy competitive environment in the field of passenger transport.

Difficulties in management and handling violations

During the investigation, the reporter discovered that some shared vehicles, carpools, and ride-sharing vehicles used white license plates (license plates for vehicles serving individuals and families, not for transport business vehicles); at the same time, on the side and rear windows, there were stickers with contact and booking methods such as: phone number, Zalo, Facebook... for those in need to easily find. The fact that the owners of transport business vehicles but did not change to yellow license plates violated Clause 8, Article 30 of Decree No. 100/2019/ND-CP dated December 30, 2019 of the Government when individuals committed the violation of using family cars for profit without changing to appropriate license plates is a clear violation according to the provisions of the law. The fine can be applied from 4-6 million VND/violation, for organizations, the fine is from 8-12 million VND/violation for the vehicle owner organization.

Although there are specific fines, it is still difficult for management agencies to determine the violations and faults of vehicle owners. Therefore, the transport sector is supplementing a draft to amend the mechanism to suit the management of new types of transport such as technology vehicles, carpooling, and carpooling.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tran Hoang, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Department of Transport, choosing a method to inspect and manage the type of business vehicles, automobile transport in the form of technology vehicles, carpooling vehicles, carpooling vehicles, and shared vehicles is very difficult when the owners of these vehicles do not travel on fixed routes, and their methods of operation are extremely sophisticated to avoid inspection and handling by the patrol force. In case the unit discovers information through inspection, patrolling, and reporting from the people about picking up and dropping off passengers, and illegal transportation business, it will make a record and strictly handle it. In the coming time, the force will continue to change inspection methods such as patrolling and handling at hot spots; using cameras to monitor vehicle activities... The traffic police force and traffic inspectors have also coordinated to increase inspection and handling, but the level of punishment is not enough to deter and is not strong enough to prevent this type.

Colonel Phan Ngoc Truyen, Head of the Traffic Police Department (City Police) said that according to current regulations, the pick-up and drop-off of passengers by shared vehicles is not allowed. Controlling this activity also causes many difficulties for management, because the subjects find ways to deal with the inspection and handling of the traffic police force such as pretending to be relatives; moving on deserted roads, alleys, and lanes; receiving passengers online... To effectively inspect and handle traffic violations, the traffic police will be flexible in patrolling and monitoring methods through the camera system to strictly handle violating vehicle owners.

WIN

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