Hanoi police deploy drones to monitor traffic and urban order

Hanoi authorities have launched a pilot program using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to monitor traffic and enforce urban order. The initiative aims to identify violations and manage congestion in the capital through high-resolution aerial surveillance.

Initially tested in the Hoan Kiem and Tay Ho districts, the drone deployment has expanded to strategic routes including Beltway 1 and Beltway 3. At the Khuat Duy Tien-Nguyen Trai intersection on Beltway 3, drones are used to monitor heavy traffic and elevated sections that are difficult to patrol from the ground.

The technology is designed to detect several categories of infractions, including illegal parking on sidewalks or in prohibited zones, driving in emergency lanes, unauthorized street vending, and illegal passenger pick-ups. Equipped with long-range zoom and artificial intelligence, the drones capture clear images of license plates and vehicle movements, which are transmitted in real time to authorities for immediate enforcement or deferred fines.