A traffic police officer checks the alcohol level of a car driver in Thu Duc town, HCMC, October 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Tran Long
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday called for increased monitoring of alcohol violations in road traffic during the upcoming holiday.
In a document issued to maintain road safety during the New Year and Lunar New Year (Tet) public holidays, the Prime Minister called on people not to drive after drinking and not to use mobile phones while driving, and to respect speed limits.
The Ministry of Public Security has been tasked with dealing with those who violate traffic laws. They are also responsible for stopping illegal motorcycle and car racing.
A week before, the Prime Minister asked localities to finish repairing vital traffic routes and return the streets to the population. Tetthe biggest festival in Vietnam which culminates on February 10. The main roads that serve as entrances to downtown Hanoi and HCMC, which connect train stations, airports and ports, must be subject to measures to be organized so that there are no traffic jams long lasting before and after Tethe said.
Also on Tuesday, the traffic police department under the Ministry of Public Security said measures to ensure road safety would be deployed until Tetwhere the ministry would coordinate police officers to address the risks of road accidents, including alcohol, drug and speed-related offenses.
Teams will pay particular attention to buses, coaches and cars carrying violating goods, a department representative said.
In the first nine months of this year, 222 cases of road accidents were caused by drunk people, resulting in 99 deaths and 168 injuries.
Vietnamese law states that any amount of alcohol found in a person’s system while driving will result in the loss of their license for a certain period of time. Penalties for drunk driving can include a fine of up to VND40 million ($1,640) and a two-year license suspension, while those who cause accidents while drunk can face facing criminal charges.
Vietnam will celebrate Tet seven-day break from February 8 to 14, 2024. There will also be a three-day break from December 30, 2023 to January 1, 2024 for the New Year.
