Nghe An discovered 63 drivers using drugs

Drivers continuously detected using drugs

During the implementation of Plan No. 32/KH-CAT-PC08-PV01 dated February 3, 2023 of Nghe An Provincial Police on patrolling, controlling, and handling violations under the topic "Drivers on the road with drugs in their bodies, violating speed and alcohol concentration", there were days when the Traffic Police working group discovered 2-3 drivers using drugs.

To detect drug-using drivers, traffic police often change the time and method of operation when checking. Photo: D.C.

For example, on March 31, at 7:30 p.m., at Km423 National Highway 1A, the working group of Dien Chau Traffic Police Station inspected a truck with license plate 29H-373xx traveling in the North-South direction. Upon inspection, driver NVT (born in 1974), residing in Hoai Duc (Hanoi) was able to present relevant documents. However, it was discovered that Mr. T. showed signs of fear, so the authorities requested a quick test and found him positive for narcotics.drug.

Previously, at 2:30 p.m., also at Km423 on National Highway 1A, the Working Group of Dien Chau Traffic Police Station inspected a truck with license plate 29H - 769xx. During the inspection, driver NVB (born in 1993), residing in Ha Trung district (Thanh Hoa) was uncooperative and "asked" the traffic police to "ignore" him. However, a quick test showed a positive result for drugs. At 4:15 p.m. the same day, at Km418 on National Highway 1A, after checking the motorbike driven by NVT (born in 1992), residing in Dien Chau district, in addition to being found to not have a driver's license, a quick test showed that driver T. also tested positive for drugs.

According to the Working Group of Dien Chau Traffic Police Station, when detected positive for drugs, each driver had a reason to justify, some said they had previously drunk wine soaked with opium or had just tried crystal meth, some confessed to using stimulants for a long time to stay awake... Based on the violations, the Working Group drew up a record of the above drivers to handle them in accordance with the provisions of the law. Because drivers using drugs pose many potential dangers, including a high risk of causing traffic accidents.

Regular and surprise health checks for drivers

According to statistics from the Traffic Police Department, in the first quarter of 2023, through patrols and controls, the national traffic police force detected over 400 drivers testing positive for drugs, of which Nghe An detected 63 cases (an increase of 12 cases compared to the previous 3 months), ranking 2nd after Binh Duong (99 cases).

Looking at the numbers discovered by the authorities, along with the regulations on penalties for driving cars while under the influence of drugs, drivers can be fined from 30-40 million VND, and those driving motorbikes can be fined from 6-8 million VND. In addition, drivers will have their driving licenses revoked for 22-24 months. In cases of causing accidents and serious damage, they will also be criminally prosecuted for violating road traffic regulations with the highest prison sentence of up to 15 years. It can be seen that the penalties are quite severe, but why are violations not decreasing?

During 2 days (April 16-17), nearly 1,500 drivers of 23 transport businesses and cooperatives in the area received periodic health check-ups. (In photo: Drivers performing urine tests). Photo: TL

According to Mr. Nguyen Sy Thang - Head of Transport Management Department, Nghe An Department of Transport: Every year, the department organizes periodic health check-ups for drivers, which is one of the mandatory regulations for transport enterprises and drivers in the transport business. Most recently, in 2 days (April 16-17), the Department and Nghe An Automobile Transport Association coordinated with Thai An General Hospital to organize periodic health check-ups for nearly 1,500 drivers of 23 enterprises and cooperatives. "Serious health check-ups will reduce traffic accidents when drivers are healthy enough, and also screen for drivers who test positive for drugs" - Mr. Nguyen Sy Thang shared.

However, there is currently no regulation allowing the Department of Transport to revoke the driver's license for those who test positive for drugs, and business owners have the right to terminate the contract with drivers who do not meet health requirements, especially for drivers found to be using drugs. Therefore, this requires self-awareness from businesses.

Not to mention, there is currently no database to monitor drivers who have violated drug use, so there is a situation where drivers who have been fired from one company continue to apply for jobs at another. Regarding this issue, a passenger transport company owner said that he had proposed to compile statistics and list cases of drivers who have used drugs on a website that connects businesses so that they can look up information when recruiting... This is not feasible legally, because it violates the privacy of each person. In addition, it affects the lives of drivers when they have reintegrated into the community.

To check and prevent the current danger from drug-using drivers early, according to a doctor at Nghe An Mental Hospital: Verification of drug use problems should be conducted periodically or suddenly, if necessary, referral to a mental health specialist should be made, only then can the most accurate conclusion be made, ensuring whether the driver currently has sufficient mental health to practice or not.

Dien Chau Traffic Police Station draws up a record of the driver's violation. Photo: D.C.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Nam Hong - Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Department, Nghe An Police said: Determining that drug use by drivers is one of the causes of traffic accidents, even serious and catastrophic traffic accidents. Based on the direction of all levels and sectors, along with strong propaganda to transport business units to strengthen measures to manage business drivers, resolutely not to use drivers with drugs. In the coming time, especially during the April 30 and May 1 holidays, the Traffic Police force will focus on controlling alcohol and drug concentrations on traffic routes. Accordingly, the time and method of operation during inspection will be regularly changed.

Thus, along with patrolling, controlling, detecting and strictly handling drug-using drivers by the Traffic Police, in order to properly manage drivers and prevent drug use by drivers, businesses need to properly implement regulations on health checks for drivers and check for drug use at least once a year.

Along with that, combine surprise inspections to prevent cases where drivers who know the regular inspection schedule try to avoid it by stopping using drugs for a while and resolutely terminate the contract with drivers who use drugs. Because in reality, in cases where the transport business owner knows that the person is using drugs but still lets him drive the car, causing damage to the health and property of others, he will be jointly responsible, with a prison sentence of up to 7 years.