Radar detectors widely used by drivers

Many drivers in Vietnam have spent millions of dong to install radar or laser detectors, most of which are illegally imported from China, to detect and warn them of speed gun encounters.

Radar or laser detectors are sold in various designs, such as walkie-talkies or mobile phone, and have lured many drivers into buying them to cope with the speed guns of traffic police.

In early July, Tuoi Tre reporters accompanied a coach plying the route between Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Thuan Province.

When the bus arrived at the Dau Giay crossroad in Dong Nai Province Minh, the driver, was speeding up until a small, black device on his left flickered and repeatedly beeped.

He immediately reduced the speed to 60 kilometers an hour and told his assistant, “Traffic police are shooting speed ahead.”

A Chinese-imported radar/laser detector used to detect and warn them of speed gun encounters is in use in reality. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Exactly as the device had warned, 1.5 kilometers later three policemen were found standing behind a tree on the right, checking the speed of passing vehicles.

“Well, thanks to this machine, I have escaped several times,” Minh said.

Minh took a co-worker named Kien, who drives the HCMC-Nam Dinh Province route, to District 5 to buy a radar detector on July 6.

“This device can not only recognize speed guns from a distance, but also can electronically interfere with them. Several coach owners have spent tens of millions of dong equipping their vehicles with them,” Minh said.

Lien, a driver on the Vung Tau-HCMC route, said that “After the radar or laser detector warns of speed guns, drivers will take the device out and hide it away to prevent traffic policemen from uncovering it. They plug it into the socket again after escaping from the examination of the police.”

Phuong, a radar detector trader on An Duong Vuong Street in District 5, said that some days, dozens of drivers call to order the detectors.

Tuoi Tre reporters visited the Khanh Toan automotive accessories shop in Ward 3 of District 5 on July 25.

A Chinese-imported radar or laser detector used to detect and warn them of speed gun encounters is showcased in a shop in HCMC. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Thao, a worker at the shop, said that they are selling radar and laser detectors imported from the US at the price of VND1 million (US$48) per item. These devices can detect speed guns from a distance of 2-3 kilometers. They are illicitly imported by plane and quickly distributed to drivers.

Other shops on An Duong Vuong, which is regarded as the automotive accessories street, are also selling radar or laser detectors at $100-300 per item.

Quang Minh shop sells devices that are imported from the Philippines at VND2.8 million ($134). They can uncover speed guns within a radius of one kilometer.

Minh, the shop manager, brought out a black Whistler Laser Detector and said, “Whether the police stand in the brush or on the street, it can detect their speed guns.”

Some shops have even more modern devices which can connect with iPhones to help disguise them. This model is being sold for VND5.4 million ($259) at a shop on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street in District 3, and customers must order them in advance.

Associate professor and doctor Do Van Dung, deputy principle of the HCMC University of Technical Education, said that radar or laser detectors identify the waves emitted from speed guns. They are prevalent abroad and even publicly sold in the US and Russia.

Drivers using this device to cope with traffic police will cause a high threat of traffic accidents. However, Vietnam does not yet have any regulations or sanctions on the usage of radar or laser detectors.

“It is very difficult for the police to uncover the devices as right after they notice them, drivers will take it out and hide it away,” Dung said, and proposed that traffic police strengthen patrols and carry out unannounced checks to monitor drivers’ speed.