Hanoi police have begun using drones to monitor traffic
Drones in test mode are helping record violations on Ring Road No. 3 and find accidents and traffic jams faster.
Hanoi police have begun using drones to monitor traffic on one of the busiest sections of Ring Road No. 3 — near the Khuất Duy Tiến — Nguyễn Trãi intersection. The project is currently operating in pilot mode.
Drones make it possible to monitor areas that are difficult to keep under constant observation from the ground. From the air, police officers can record vehicles, their license plates, locations, and sequence of actions. In particular, drones detect driving in the emergency lane, illegal stopping and parking, as well as picking up and dropping off passengers in prohibited places.
The images and videos obtained are transmitted to officers in real time. If a violation is recorded clearly enough, the materials can be used for verification and issuing a fine. At the same time, drone footage itself does not mean automatic punishment: before a driver is held liable, the materials must be reviewed and confirmed in accordance with the established procedure.
The technology is used not only to find violators. During rush hours, drones help police monitor a large area and detect accidents, broken-down vehicles, and places where traffic jams are forming more quickly. After receiving information from the air, officers can more promptly send the necessary units to the scene and organize traffic.
The drones are also equipped with high-resolution cameras and image zoom functions, and some systems use artificial intelligence technologies to help identify violations and traffic problems. Police view the current project as a way to supplement ground-based monitoring and will later assess the possibility of broader UAV use in traffic management and urban order.
