The unpredictable danger of drug driving

Many potential risks

Drugs have long been a threat to society, not only causing unpredictable harm to the health of users but also being the source of many types of crimes. According to many studies, each different type of drug will affect the brain, causing different behavioral and cognitive disorders, but all are dangerous to the user and those around them. The danger will increase many times if the driver uses drugs while driving.

According to records, since the beginning of the year, during patrols and inspections, the traffic police force in the province has discovered many drivers testing positive for drugs. Notably, the drivers who violated the law are mainly young. This is a real threat to the safety of traffic participants.

Recently, on October 18, 2024, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Le Hong Vinh, signed a decision to administratively fine the driver of the PXD vehicle (born in 1985, residing in Ha Thanh commune, Tu Ky district, Hai Duong province), with a total fine of 46 million VND.

Previously, on September 22, 2024, during the patrol and control process, the Traffic Police Department, Provincial Police discovered PXD driving a vehicle with license plate UN-3344 (Lao license plate), traveling on the road without a driver's license. Expanding the inspection (through testing), it was also discovered that this driver tested positive for drugs.

Not long ago, on October 10, 2024, the Provincial People's Committee also issued a decision to administratively sanction a young man named THQ (born in 1998, residing in Nghia An commune, Nghia Dan district). Specifically, on September 18, 2024, THQ drove a car with license plate 37C-337xx on the road at a speed exceeding the limit (63 km/h while the permitted speed is 50 km/h). The authorities asked THQ to stop the vehicle for inspection.

During the inspection, in addition to detecting THQ violating alcohol concentration, the authorities also discovered that this young man tested positive for drugs. Afterwards, the Provincial Police issued a report and proposed to handle THQ for 3 administrative violations.

In particular, for driving a car on the road while having drugs in his body, THQ was fined 35 million VND, and his driving license was revoked until May 30, 2026 (the validity period of the driving license). For driving a car on the road while having alcohol concentration in his breath but not exceeding 0.25 milligrams/liter of breath (test result 0.043 milligrams/liter of breath), THQ was fined 7 million VND. And for driving a car at a speed exceeding the allowed speed (63 km/h above the allowed speed of 50 km/h), this male driver was fined 5 million VND. The total amount that THQ had to pay was 47 million VND.

Notably, on the same day, September 20, 2024, the Provincial People's Committee simultaneously issued two decisions to administratively sanction drivers THT (born in 1994, residing in Hung Dung ward, Vinh city); TVL (born in 1994, residing in Nghi Xuan commune, Nghi Loc district); for driving a car on the road while having drugs in their body.

Both T. and L. were then fined 35 million VND each according to the law. TVL was also fined 5 million VND for speeding (61 km/h while the regulation only allows 50 km/h).

These are not isolated cases of people being found to have drugs in their system while driving. In fact, since the beginning of 2024, authorities have also discovered many cases of people driving cars with alcohol levels exceeding the permitted level and drugs in their system.

Need to closely monitor and strictly handle

The consequences of driving under the influence of drugs are extremely serious. Stimulants such as drugs can directly affect the nervous system, impairing the driver's judgment and slowing down the driver's reaction time. This can easily lead to serious traffic accidents.

In fact, there have been many tragic accidents in Nghe An caused by drivers using drugs. These accidents not only cause loss of life and property but also affect people’s psychology, causing a loss of confidence in traffic safety.

Some transport companies do not have strict monitoring measures for their drivers. Regular health checks and random drug use checks are not fully implemented. This gives many drivers the opportunity and conditions to use drugs without being detected.

Ms. Mai Thi Ngai - Head of Transport Management Department, Department of Transport said: To reduce and prevent the situation of drug driving in Nghe An, it is necessary to combine many solutions from the authorities, transport businesses and people's awareness.In fact, on the part of the transport sector, in recent times, to monitor the health status of drivers, the Department of Transport has directed automobile transport businesses; bus station management and exploitation units... to increase health checks for drivers.

The Department of Transport also requires that in addition to conducting health checks for drivers according to regulations, units must also report the results to the department, so that the department can send staff to coordinate with the health sector and the Nghe An Automobile Transport Association to monitor.

However, to put an end to the situation of drivers using drugs while participating in traffic, the authorities, especially the traffic police, need to increase the number of surprise checks on drivers, especially on routes with high traffic density. In addition, strict measures should be applied to cases of drivers violating the law to create deterrence. Cases where drivers are found to be using drugs should have their driving licenses revoked and their driving license banned for a long time, or even permanently in serious cases.

The application of monitoring technology in vehicle and driver management can help businesses and authorities easily check the driver's work schedule. Journey monitoring devices and cameras on vehicles can record the driver's behavior, helping to promptly detect and handle violations, which also needs to be taken seriously.

Only then can we hope to reduce the number of drivers using drugs while participating in traffic, and at the same time contribute to creating a civilized and safe society for all people.