Drinking and driving: 'Going to work in the morning, not sure if I'll be home in the afternoon'

Questioning Minister of Public Security To Lam on the morning of June 4, delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy (Da Nang) emphasized the dangers of drinking and driving, "many people go to work in the morning and are not sure if they will return home in the afternoon", and at the same time raised the issue of the responsibility of the industry commander in the face of rampant crime that causes insecurity in society.

Delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy.

Responding to delegates, Minister To Lam affirmed that the highest goal of the Public Security sector is to build order, discipline, and social security, and to create a society without crime.

“The issue we are concerned about is traffic safety. Not only Vietnamese people but also foreign visitors to Vietnam are concerned about this issue,” Minister To Lam emphasized.

Regarding solutions, Minister of Public Security To Lam said that he will closely coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors. The transport sector develops transport infrastructure. The police force organizes traffic.

The head of the Ministry of Public Security once again emphasized that he will propose that the National Assembly develop a Law on Traffic Safety with many strict sanctions, including sanctions to control the use of stimulants and control people who drink alcohol while participating in traffic.

“Measuring alcohol concentration will be very difficult when the Law does not prohibit people from drinking alcohol and driving” - Minister To Lam expressed that yesterday, the plan to ban the use of alcohol and beer while driving in the draft Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer was only agreed by less than 50% of the total number of delegates.

Minister of Public Security To Lam answers questions before the National Assembly.

Disagreeing, delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy raised a debate sign and said, "Not including the above regulation in the draft law on Prevention of Harmful Effects of Beer and Alcohol does not mean leaving it blank because other current laws already have regulations.

“Crime prevention is a common responsibility of the whole society, but I want to know the responsibility as the Commander of the industry in the face of the serious crime situation that is rampant and causes insecurity in society, to the point that even stopping at a red light can cause traffic accidents” - the female delegate once again raised the issue.

Before Minister To Lam answered, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan emphasized that it is not that the National Assembly does not want to punish people who drink and drive and cause accidents because current laws already stipulate it.

However, due to recent concerns about the use of alcohol while driving, the Government's drafting agency as well as the National Assembly Standing Committee and many delegates have proposed increasing sanctions such as prohibiting drivers from drinking alcohol while driving.

The results of the National Assembly's consultation on whether to add a regulation prohibiting drivers from using beer and alcohol or to maintain the current law (only those who drink above the prescribed limit will be punished) when discussing the Law on Prevention of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer, both options have not received more than half of the delegates' approval. That means the current regulations, which have regulations on alcohol concentration levels, will continue to be applied.

"I say this to avoid misunderstanding that the law has no provisions to deal with this issue" - the National Assembly Chairman once again affirmed.

Further clarifying the delegates' questions, Minister To Lam said that the current law has regulations on handling drivers using alcohol, but in reality, implementation is difficult.

Regarding the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Security in the face of crime, Minister To Lam frankly said that with its functions and duties, the police force and its leaders are responsible. In addition, the political system, departments, branches and organizations also have responsibility in fighting and preventing crime.

"On the one hand, the police actively investigate crimes, but the higher goal is to prevent and not let crimes happen. In the solution, coordination with ministries, branches and the consensus of the people to prevent and reduce crimes is very important" - the head of the police sector emphasized./.