Car driving service flourishes after alcohol testing campaign in Nghe An

Recently, the number of customers seeking driver services has increased dramatically. Photo: Thanh Phuc

The driving service was opened in March 2022, but then due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the business stagnated. When the pandemic subsided and the "new normal" returned, the driving service of Mr. Nguyen Van Dan in Vinh City restarted.

In particular, since the Lunar New Year of Quy Mao, especially when the authorities simultaneously launched a campaign to handle alcohol concentration violations, the number of customers seeking driving services has increased dramatically.

Authorities have increased inspections and penalties for violations of alcohol concentration among traffic participants. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Nguyen Van Dan said: “From the beginning of February 2023 until now, the number of customers has increased 3-4 times compared to before. At times, the facility received 40-50 service orders from customers, mainly in the evening (from 7-11pm). The facility's 7 drivers had to work at full capacity to meet the needs of customers."

Nowadays, when the authorities have increased the handling of alcohol violations, people have gradually formed the habit of "don't drive after drinking alcohol". Therefore, before drinking, they call the hotline to hire someone to drive for them; or many restaurants and pubs also connect with driving service establishments to drive customers home safely.

With just a call or text message, customers only need to leave their phone number, restaurant address, home address, the operator will receive and send a driver to serve the customer. The price for inner-city travel within a 10km radius will be 100,000 VND/trip; each additional km will be charged an additional 10,000 VND.

The drivers working in the car driving service are those who have a B2 driver's license or higher and have many years of driving experience, familiar with the terrain. In addition, because the customers are people who have had alcohol levels, many of them have "too much", so the drivers must be experienced in handling situations; at the same time, they must have professional ethics because when accepting to drive for others, they also accept to keep the customers' property.

Car driving is a part-time job that brings in quite a high income for drivers. Photo: Visafe

Being a car driver is a part-time job but brings in quite a high income for drivers. “On average, I take 3-5 trips per night, costing 100,000 VND/trip. After deducting expenses, I still earn 300,000 VND. On weekends, holidays, and Tet, when there are many customers, I can earn up to a million VND/night,” said driver Cu Huy Duong (Cua Nam ward, Vinh city).

Up to now, the whole Vinh city has about 5 establishments specializing in driving services; in addition, car rental establishments also provide this service or many individuals driving service cars and taxis also accept driving for customers in need.

Mr. Bui Quang Trung, owner of a car driving business located in Quang Trung ward, Vinh city, said: "In fact, many people, due to the nature of their work, often have to participate in drinking parties and entertain guests. Not everyone has the financial means to have a private driver. Therefore, the need to hire a driver to take people who drink alcohol home is increasing. Our business alone has 14 drivers, but there are times when we still cannot meet the needs of customers."

This shows that people's awareness of complying with the Road Traffic Law has been raised, protecting their own lives, contributing to ensuring traffic safety and reducing traffic accidents caused by the influence of alcohol.

It is predicted that the car driving service will gradually become popular and "profitable" when people gradually form the awareness of "don't drive after drinking alcohol". Photo: Visafe