More legislative traffic on the 'Doi Moi' superhighway : technology transfer, IP and competition law in Vietnam

Since 1986 Vietnam has been engaged in the transition from a centrally-controlled economy to a socialist-oriented market economy (the 'doi moi' renovation). The process for global economic integration has been slow given the magnitude of necessary reforms. Consequently technology entrepreneurs often discount Vietnam as a possible commercialization base which means that it is not realising its economic potential as a hub of technology transfer in the Asia-Pacific region. Three significant factors in the current uncertainty are Vietnam's laws on competition, intellectual property and technology transfer. Another problem is the lack of literature on these laws. This article first discusses the conceptual relationship between competition, intellectual property and technology transfer. Hopefully the article will provide some guidance for the technology entrepreneur considering foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam. The bottom line is that these laws still need further reform to bolster entrepreneurial confidence.

Alcohol-related driving offences, crashes, and traffic policing strategies in Zhejiang Province, China

Context Alcohol-related traffic offences and associated trauma have attracted attention in China in recent years, culminating in changes to national legislation in May 2011. Harsher penalties were introduced, particularly for offences where blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels above 80mg/100mL are recorded. Deemed to be drunk under the law, this is now a criminal offence attracting penalties including large monetary fines, licence suspension for 5 years and imprisonment. Objective This paper outlines key statistics about alcohol-related road trauma in Zhejiang Province and strategies used to combat drink- and drunk-driving. Key Outcomes Zhejiang Province, in China’s south east, has a population of approximately 54, 426,000; 22.36% hold a driving licence. Rapid motorisation is occurring there. In 2011, 1,383,318 new licences were issued, representing a 16.78% increase from the previous year. In 2012, there were a total of 65,000 police officers throughout the Province, 12,307 of whom (18.9%) were traffic police. Responsibility for conducting alcohol testing is the responsibility of all traffic police. The number of alcohol breath tests conducted per year was not available. However, traffic police are actively enforcing alcohol-related laws. In 2011, 89,228 drivers were charged with drink-driving (DUI;20-80mg/100 mL) and 10,014 with the more serious drunk-driving offence (DWI;>80mg/100mL) (Zhejiang Traffic Management Department, 2012). These numbers decreased from the previous year (221,262 and 26,390 respectively). For all crashes recorded in 2011 (n=20,176), 2% involved alcohol-impaired road users. Information on the role of alcohol in crashes from previous years was not available. Discussion Various strategies are employed to detect alcohol-impaired drivers including: targeting vehicles from hotels/restaurants; using sense of smell to screen drivers for further testing; passive alcohol sensors to test drivers; and blood tests for crash-involved drivers where a fatality occurred. Although resources to promote road safety are limited, various government initiatives promote awareness of the dangers of alcohol-related driving and more are needed in future.

Legislative history of recent primary safety belt laws.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Research and Traffic Records, Washington, D.C.

Evaluation of minimum drinking age laws using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

State laws on early license revocation for driving while under the influence.

Mode of access: Internet.

Report on a national study of Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) and Illegal Per Se laws; effectiveness of PBT and IPS laws. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Patterns of currency transactions and their relationship to narcotics traffic : hearing before the Subcommittee on General Oversight and Renegotiation of the Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session on H.R. 5961 ... November 29, 1979.

"Serial no. 96-47."

Evaluation of state motorcycle helmet laws using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

A contemporary overview of traffic law uniformity in the United States: 1968-1978.

Mode of access: Internet.

Alcohol countermeasures - illegal per se and preliminary breath testing laws. Issue paper. Revised ed.

Mode of access: Internet.

Alcohol and highway safety laws: a national overview.

Mode of access: Internet.

State of Rhode Island Special Adjudication for Enforcement - volume III: analysis of the administrative adjudication of traffic offenses. Analytic study. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Driver and Pedestrian Programs, Washington, D.C.

Safety belt use laws: evaluation of primary enforcement and other provisions. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

The effect of motorcycle helmet usage on head injuries, and the effect of usage laws on helmet wearing rates.

Mode of access: Internet.

The case for primary enforcement of state safety belt use laws.

Mode of access: Internet.