Minister of Public Security gives reasons for absolute ban on driving with alcohol concentration

On the afternoon of November 23, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the draft Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety. One of the contents that many National Assembly deputies were interested in discussing in groups on June 10 was the regulation that absolutely prohibits people from "driving vehicles while having alcohol in their blood or breath."

The report synthesized the opinions of the National Assembly deputies at the discussion session, most of the deputies agreed on the necessity of promulgating the law with 100 opinions in favor. In addition, there were 5 opinions concerned about separating the 2008 Road Traffic Law to promulgate the Road Law and the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety.

Many traffic accidents have serious consequences due to alcohol concentration violations.

Reporting on the expected direction of receiving and explaining opinions discussed at the National Assembly delegates' group, Minister of Public Security To Lam affirmed that the development of the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety and the Road Law comes from objective practical requirements.

Minister of Public Security To Lam. Photo: National Assembly

The most important goal of this is to ensure the lives, health and property of people participating in traffic, specifically identify the State agency responsible for road traffic order and safety; develop and manage traffic infrastructure...

Regarding prohibited acts, many opinions suggested considering an absolute ban on people "driving vehicles while having alcohol concentration in their blood or breath". 10 opinions expressing this view said that there should be an assessment report, summary, and scientific basis to propose the lowest limit.

Explaining this content, General To Lam emphasized that the regulation prohibiting the act of driving a vehicle while having alcohol concentration in the blood or breath aims to ensure the health of traffic participants, avoid alcohol abuse, protect the race, and limit traffic accidents.

This content is also consistent with the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer (Clause 6, Article 5 stipulates that driving a vehicle with alcohol concentration in blood or breath is a prohibited act).

The Government report clearly states that drivers who drink alcohol will have their judgment and handling of traffic situations affected. In fact, there have been many serious traffic accidents, resulting in deaths and injuries, caused by drivers violating alcohol concentration regulations.

After a period of drastic implementation of alcohol concentration control and handling, traffic accidents related to alcohol use have decreased significantly.

Regarding the proposal to adjust in the direction of regulating the specific alcohol concentration level allowed to drive vehicles, Minister To Lam affirmed that the Government will carefully and thoroughly research and evaluate on the basis of ensuring practical requirements, having scientific basis and ensuring feasibility.

In addition, Minister To Lam also said that the Government has accepted and added prohibitions on controlling and using unmanned aerial vehicles on roads, within the air protection area, and road safety corridors where the law prohibits controlling and using them.

Tighten the mechanism to monitor drivers' health conditions

There are suggestions to study regulations on health conditions of drivers to ensure strictness and feasibility; to study regulations on people with disabilities being allowed to drive vehicles suitable to their disability to ensure the rights of the disadvantaged.

Some opinions pointed out that in recent times, driver training in many places has not ensured quality. Therefore, it is necessary to have stricter management regulations, continue to strongly socialize driver training and tighten testing to improve the quality of drivers in the direction of research in the composition of the testing council including the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, and a number of related ministries to jointly supervise.

Explaining the content of health conditions of drivers, the Minister of Public Security informed that the drafting agency will continue to coordinate with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies to ensure strict and feasible regulations towards tightening the mechanism to monitor health conditions of drivers.

Regarding vehicles for people with disabilities, the current Circular on training, testing, and granting of driving licenses of the Ministry of Transport already has this content.

Regarding the driver testing supervision mechanism and the composition of the driver testing council, the drafting agency will coordinate with ministries and branches to research to ensure suitability, feasibility and effectiveness.

Regulations on alcohol concentration violation thresholds through stages

The 2008 Road Traffic Law stipulates the alcohol concentration violation threshold when it exceeds 50mg/100ml of blood or 0.25mg/1l of breath, while the 2019 Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer sets the alcohol concentration limit at 0.

Ministry of Public Security speaks out about proposal to limit alcohol concentration to 0

In response to concerns from some National Assembly deputies about the regulation that absolutely prohibits driving while having alcohol in the body, a representative of the law drafting agency of the Ministry of Public Security spoke up to explain.

Is it too strict to absolutely ban alcohol concentration when driving?

Many opinions suggest that we should consult other countries around the world to consider raising the alcohol concentration threshold to 30mg/100ml of blood to handle violations.

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