Nghe An: Continue to strictly control and handle violations of alcohol concentration

Positive change

Thanks to good propaganda work, publicizing inspection and violation handling plansalcohol concentrationon the media, so recently the number of violators in Nghe An province has tended to decrease.

According to data from the Traffic Police Department, implementing Plan 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", from February 3 to April 3, for violations of alcohol concentration alone, over 2,000 cases were detected and handled; compared to the same period, the number of violations has decreased, which is also one of the reasons for the reduction in traffic accidents in all 3 criteria. It is worth mentioning that people who use alcohol and beer have formed new habits, which are using taxis, driving services or asking relatives to take them home...

The Traffic Police Team of Vinh City Police set up a checkpoint to check alcohol concentration. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

On the evening of April 7, at the alcohol concentration checkpoint on Le Mao extended road, the working group of the Traffic Police Team of Vinh City Police continuously stopped vehicles to check alcohol concentration. According to the records, most drivers agreed, appeared very open, comfortable and complied well with the inspection of the Traffic Police force. Mr. Duong Sy Dinh, residing in Le Loi ward, Vinh city, a car driver, said: "The inspection and strict handling of alcohol concentration violations for drivers needs to be maintained regularly, before each individual becomes aware. Even though the fine is up to 40 million VND, I still agree. Because in reality, if people who have drunk alcohol or beer drive vehicles, it will not only be dangerous for themselves but will be a danger to many people."

In many cases of stopping a car for inspection, it is not difficult to recognize that someone in the car has used alcohol or beer, however, the driver does not violate the law. For example, in the case of a car with license plate 37A-13xxx, when checking the female driver, she said: After being fined 7 million VND and having her driver's license revoked for nearly a year, now every time I go out to eat, my husband takes a taxi or calls his wife to pick him up. At first, every time like that, I felt annoyed and bothered, but thinking back, it is both safe and I don't have to sit at home worrying, so now it has become a habit.

In many cases of stopping a vehicle for inspection, it is not difficult to see that someone in the car has consumed alcohol or beer, however, the driver is not in violation. Photo: Le Thang

Some other cases said that whenever they have to drive to entertain guests or meet friends to drink alcohol, they often use the driving service when returning home. "Within a 10 km radius, I only have to pay 100,000 VND, so why not use it? I have someone to take me and my car home. If I keep driving, not to mention being fined, if I accidentally get into a traffic accident, the consequences are unpredictable," said a driver.

According to our observations, after nearly 2 hours of performing the task of checking alcohol concentration, the working group of the Traffic Police Team (Vinh City Police) only discovered 2 violations. Justifying his violation, Mr. N.D.A, driving a car with license plate 37A-44xxx with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.072 mg/liter of breath, confided, "A friend who has been doing business in the South for a long time invited me to his house for dinner, so it was hard to refuse. I drank exactly 3 cups of wine. Because we respected each other, we drank...".

All cases of alcohol concentration violations will be strictly handled. Photo: Le Thang

No restricted areas

According to statistics from the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee, in the first quarter of 2023, there were 41 traffic accidents in Nghe An province, killing 31 people and injuring 31 people, compared to the same period in 2022, a decrease of 7 cases, 4 deaths and 5 injuries. This is the result of implementing many solutions, including controlling alcohol concentration for drivers, along with the gradual change in people's awareness, forming new habits after consuming alcohol, such as using taxis, driving services or asking relatives to pick them up and drop them off...

Traffic police show drivers the results of alcohol tests. (In the photo: In case no violations are found during the test). Photo: Dinh Tuyen

However, on holidays and weekends, violations often increase. In addition, according to many traffic police, during the process of checking and handling violations of alcohol concentration, some people still go on social networks to report when they see the authorities checking and some cases of uncooperation, when seeing the traffic police, they turn around and intentionally run away...

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Nam Hong - Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Department (Provincial Police): In case a traffic participant intentionally does not comply or has an act of resistance to the traffic police when asked to check alcohol concentration, he/she will be punished at the highest level for this behavior.

Along with previous and most recent directives, there is Official Dispatch No. 1763 - CV/TU of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee on "Strengthening leadership and direction in compliance with legal regulations on traffic safety and order in Nghe An province", Nghe An Traffic Police force thoroughly grasps that there are no restricted areas, and that no cases of intervention or omission are allowed in handling violations of alcohol concentration.

It is strictly forbidden to cover up, change, or ignore violations of alcohol concentration while driving. For violators who are officials, civil servants, party members, or members of the armed forces, in addition to being handled according to the provisions of the law, a notice will be sent to the head of the agency or unit for review and handling according to regulations.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Nam Hong - Deputy Head of Traffic Police Department (Nghe An Provincial Police)

In the long term, based on the determination that alcohol concentration violations while driving are one of the main causes of traffic accidents, along with patrolling, controlling, and strictly handling other violations, the Provincial Police will continue to direct teams, stations, and local police to inspect and handle violations of alcohol concentration on national highways, provincial roads, and all roads managed by the locality, especially during the noon and evening hours.

Road Traffic Police Team No. 5, Traffic Police Department of the Provincial Police checks alcohol concentration on National Highway 46. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Regarding the issue of people's concerns that drinking cough syrup and fruit juice can still "infect" the alcohol concentration, according to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Nam Hong: In reality, in Nghe An, there has never been a case of alcohol concentration violation where the driver stated that it was due to drinking the above drinks. Because to identify violators, in addition to performing according to the profession, the traffic police force will measure at 2 levels, measuring qualitatively first, then measuring quantitatively. Therefore, there has been no case of wrong handling of alcohol concentration results.

It can be seen that the strict and tightening actions of the traffic police force have created a positive effect, people's awareness has changed a lot, gradually forming the habit of "If you drink alcohol, do not drive". However, in order to move towards a culture of responsible drinking, contributing to reducing traffic accidents, in addition to the authorities continuing to strictly control and strictly handle violations, authorities at all levels, organizations, unions, and clans also need to coordinate to promote propaganda, disseminate the harmful effects and consequences caused by alcohol and beer while participating in traffic, organize signing of commitments not to use alcohol and beer while driving...

Traffic Police Department officers of the Provincial Police propagate the Traffic Law in schools. Photo: Dang Cuong

In addition, many people also believe that it is necessary to study, amend and supplement the Law on Administrative Violations, specifying cases where the license will be permanently revoked or forced to re-study the Road Traffic Law; or even forced to take a new license exam when participating in traffic while under the influence of alcohol, beer or stimulants./.