Strictly punish violations of alcohol concentration, reduce traffic accidents

Continuously since the beginning of 2023, traffic police forces in localities in the province have been actively implementing the topic of handling drivers who violate alcohol concentration.

Bien Hoa City Police visited each restaurant and eatery that sells alcohol and beer to propagate and remind customers not to drive after drinking alcohol or beer. Photo: D.TUNG

Thereby, gradually creating a habit for people not to drive after drinking alcohol, contributing to reducing traffic accidents, helping people feel more secure when going out on the road.

* Prevent traffic accidents caused by drinking alcohol

In the two major cities of the province, Bien Hoa City and Long Khanh City, since the beginning of 2023, the traffic police force has been conducting regular and surprise alcohol concentration checks on the roads, especially at night. Therefore, hundreds of cases of alcohol concentration violations have been detected and strictly handled.

According to Bien Hoa City Police, in the first quarter of 2023, the Traffic Police - Order Team of the City Police has recorded and handled more than 1,000 cases of alcohol concentration violations, revoking 560 driving licenses. In Long Khanh City, from February 22 (starting patrolling, checking, and handling violations of the topic of Drivers of road, railway, inland waterway vehicles and railway workers directly serving train operations with drugs in their bodies, violating alcohol concentration) to date, there have been 166 cases of alcohol concentration violations handled (mainly motorcyclists).

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Hien, Head of the Traffic Police - Order Team of Bien Hoa City Police said: "With the goal of reducing traffic accidents related to alcohol, we have increased the handling of violations of alcohol concentration in the city. The Traffic Police - Order Team has developed a nightly plan to handle cases of driving in violation of alcohol concentration. On Saturday and Sunday, we will handle violations of alcohol concentration both at noon and in the evening."

In the first quarter of 2023, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee, traffic accidents continued to be controlled and decreased significantly compared to the same period in 2022; specifically: a 15.43% decrease in the number of cases, a 15.23% decrease in the number of deaths and an 8.57% decrease in the number of injuries. In particular, the number of traffic accidents caused by drivers violating alcohol concentration regulations decreased significantly compared to previous years. In Dong Nai alone, in the first quarter of 2023, there were 48 traffic accidents, killing 49 people and injuring 24 people. Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of traffic accidents decreased by 12 cases, the number of deaths decreased by 6 people, and the number of injuries increased by 3 people.

According to statistics from Dong Nai General Hospital, from the beginning of 2023 to now, there have been about 680 cases of hospitalization due to traffic accidents with blood alcohol concentration. Dr. CKII Dang Ha Huu Phuoc, Deputy Director of Dong Nai General Hospital, commented that although still at a high level, the number of people hospitalized due to traffic accidents related to alcohol and beer is showing a downward trend compared to the same period in 2022.

* Change driver behavior

At the national online conference to review the work of ensuring traffic safety and order in the first quarter of 2023 and deploy directions and tasks for the second quarter of 2023, organized by the National Traffic Safety Committee on the afternoon of April 6, Major General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security , Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee, emphasized that handling violations of alcohol concentration not only reduces traffic accidents but also has other important meanings, affecting social life. Specifically: reducing cases of intentional injury, disturbing public order, resisting law enforcement officers; reducing conflicts, disputes, domestic violence...

In Dong Nai, to spread awareness of not driving after drinking alcohol, in addition to focusing on checking and handling violations, the traffic police force in the whole province also focuses on propaganda and mobilizing people to comply with traffic laws.

For example, the Traffic Police - Public Order Team of Bien Hoa City Police hung banners reminding 400 diners and restaurant owners to strictly comply with road traffic regulations. At the same time, the authorities requested that restaurant managers advise customers who have consumed alcohol to use service vehicles, taxis or let people who have not consumed alcohol take them home.

Mr. NVM (residing in Buu Hoa Ward, Bien Hoa City) expressed: “Because the traffic police strictly handle cases of alcohol concentration violations, I no longer dare to drive on the road after drinking alcohol. Partly because I am aware of the harmful effects of drinking alcohol while driving, which can easily cause traffic accidents, and partly because I want to protect my own health as well as my family's happiness.”

According to the assessment of the functional sector, the initial effectiveness of strict handling of alcohol concentration violations in the past has contributed to significantly reducing traffic accidents as well as the harmful effects caused by alcohol and beer to families and society. Thereby, contributing to gradually changing the behavior of traffic participants, raising awareness of compliance with traffic laws for each citizen.

The Ministry of Public Security assessed that among the topics being implemented by the national traffic police force, the topic on alcohol concentration has received the consensus and support of the majority of people. The resolute handling of alcohol concentration violations has contributed to reducing traffic accidents, helping people to be less worried when going out on the road and gradually forming a culture of "if you drink alcohol, do not drive".

Dang Tung

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