The modern monitoring system has been installed at intersections with heavy traffic density and high risk of accidents, including the A1 Hill intersection (Hoàng Văn Thái Street with Võ Nguyên Giáp Street), the 7/5 Square intersection (Trần Can Street with Võ Nguyên Giáp Street), the “New Road” junction (Trường Chinh Street with Võ Nguyên Giáp Street), and the Stadium intersection (Trường Chinh Street with Hoàng Công Chất Street).

The cameras operate 24/7, automatically detecting violations of road traffic laws such as running red lights, lane violations, or disobeying road markings. When a violation occurs, the system automatically captures high-resolution images and video clips showing the time, location, license plate, and the specific violation. These data are transmitted to the command center, where traffic police officers verify the information and extract the violator’s details. Finally, a violation notice with evidence is sent to the vehicle owner, requiring them to appear at the police office for settlement.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, Deputy Head of the Dissemination, Investigation, Accident Resolution and Violation Handling Team, under the province’s Traffic Police Division, the effectiveness of the system is clearly reflected in penalty statistics. In 2024, since the system was launched, 67 violations were handled. This number rose sharply in the first six months of 2025, with 119 cases.

Explaining the increase, Lieutenant Colonel Tuấn noted: “At the beginning, we mainly focused on communication and reminders to help people get used to the system. From early 2025 onward, penalties have been strictly enforced according to procedure for all detected violations. This shows the system has stabilized and is operating at full effectiveness.”

The presence of surveillance cameras has had a strong impact on road users’ behavior. In the past, it was common for people to run red lights or ignore signals when traffic police were not present, which disrupted order and increased accident risks. “Since the cold-fine system was introduced, I’ve seen people follow the rules much better. Everyone knows cameras are watching, so they don’t dare to run lights anymore. On top of that, the fine for red-light violations is now very high, so people are much more self-conscious,” said Nguyễn Minh Dương, a resident of Điện Biên Phủ ward.

Clearly, the use of technology has overcome some of the limitations of traditional patrol methods, enabling authorities to monitor and handle violations more comprehensively, objectively, and transparently. To ensure deterrence, the cold-fine procedure is implemented strictly. For cars, if the owner fails to respond to the first violation notice, the information is integrated into the national vehicle inspection system, preventing the vehicle from passing inspection until the fine is paid.

For motorbikes, the process is equally strict. If the first notice is ignored, a second notice is sent to the local commune or ward police for verification, combined with public reminders. Should the violator continue to evade responsibility, the information is updated in the central system, which blocks them from renewing a driver’s license or registering a new vehicle.

With these positive outcomes, provincial agencies plan to expand the monitoring and cold-fine system to additional intersections already equipped with traffic lights but lacking cameras. These locations include the intersection of Nguyễn Chí Thanh and Bế Văn Đàn Streets, the intersection in front of the provincial police headquarters, the 7/5 Road intersection, and the central intersection in Mường Ảng commune. The expansion will not only strengthen traffic management but also create a “digital barrier” to protect citizens and reduce accident risks, especially as Điện Biên’s transport infrastructure is being upgraded to support socio-economic development.

The application of technology in traffic monitoring and violation handling marks an important step forward, demonstrating the determination of law enforcement to modernize state management. It is also an effective measure to raise public self-awareness, gradually building a culture of civilized and safe traffic behavior across the province.