When it comes to dashboard displays that are more like smart phones, two things are clear: Customers want them, and automakers are intent on supplying them. But are they really a good idea? Car companies answer with an emphatic yes. They say outsized dashboard displays that behave more like smart phones will boost revenue and attract buyers. And they also insist the new screens will make driving less dangerous, because of well-integrated voice controls and large touch screens that will keep drivers from fumbling with more dangerous mobile phones. But the increasingly elaborate screens have also sparked a broad debate about how much technology is appropriate in a car. "I think they (the screens) raise serious public safety questions," said Joe Simitian, the former California lawmaker who spearheaded the state's laws on phone use while driving. "From a legislative standpoint, this is going to be something legislators struggle with for years to come." “You can’t be looking at … [Read more...] about Car dashboards that act like smart phones raise safety issues
Mandatory car insurance
Trans-ASEAN trip by car a new travel experience
It has never been easier to drive between Vietnam and other member nations of ASEAN thanks to improved infrastructure and simpler procedures. It has never been easier to drive between Vietnam and other member nations of ASEAN thanks to improved infrastructure and simpler procedures. Traveling by car and motorcycle between countries within the Indochinese region or ASEAN member states, except for island nations including Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, and East Timor, has been a great possibility. ASEAN is short for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which is a political and economic organization whose members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. According to Do Minh Ho Hai, administrator of the Oto (Automobile) Saigon Forum, who has made several trans-national trips, mandatory procedures to carry out such journeys have been simplified compared to those in previous years. Highways in the ASEAN … [Read more...] about Trans-ASEAN trip by car a new travel experience
Social News 25/12
Foreigners enjoy warm Christmas in Vietnam Foreign tourists who are in Vietnam on Christmas and New Year holidays are enjoying a warm and jubilant festive atmosphere as they have been offered numerous preferential programmes. On these days, resorts and services facilities at Mui Ne beach in central Binh Thuan have organised a lot of attractive activities, including Asian-European cuisine buffets, bartender performances, cake making competition, and dancing contests. Mui Ne Bay resort discounted 10 percent of its services and held a Christmas Eve party with various activities like a “village market” serving seafood dishes, Cham cultural performances, and a music programme which drew a Philippine band. Meanwhile, The Cliff Resort and Residences is offering a 45 percent discount of room prices on December 23-26. Visitors to the resort can also learn how to make Vietnamese traditional dishes or buy Christmas souvenirs made from waste materials. All of the money collected will … [Read more...] about Social News 25/12
Uber launch brings taxi drivers competition
Last week, Viet Nam News asked readers their comments on Uber taxi, which launched recently in Ha Noi and HCM City. With this smart-phone application, passengers can select a car, pickup location and the route is tracked via GPS. The fare is often lower than normal taxi companies. Some people, however, are concerned that this will create unfair competition for other taxi companies and also whether passengers' safety and privacy can be ensured. Here are some responses. Victor Lavrenko, Russian, Ha Noi When Uber enters cities, quite often taxi companies protest and regulators are more willing to support local companies. Supporting local businesses is normal and one of the purposes of regulators in any country. The problem is that very often taxi companies do not deserve this support as their business practices are not all that good – I don't mean only in Viet Nam, it happens in many countries. Often taxis deliberately take further routes. Sometimes taximeters count more miles … [Read more...] about Uber launch brings taxi drivers competition
Social News 30/10
British man dies in Thanh Hoa Province Adam Bradley Cummings, born in 1973, was an employee of JGCS Consortium, a contractor at the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical project. On October 24, he held a party at home in Hai Hoa Commune and was later found unconscious by his girlfriend the next morning. She called his co-workers to take him to Tinh Gia District Hospital, however, he died on the way. Cummings had no suspicious signs on his body. The provincial Department of Justice issued his death certificate and contacted the British Embassy. JGCS Consortium is a joint venture formed by Chiyoda Corp., JGC Corp., Technip, and South Korean contractors GS Engineering & Construction and SK Engineering & Construction to build Nghi Son Refinery complex. Paternity leave extended Men will be able to take five to 14 days off work as paternity leave when their wife gives birth, up from five days, with the leave depending on the number of children born and the method of birth, under the … [Read more...] about Social News 30/10