In the draft report explaining, absorbing and revising a number of contents of the draft Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, which was commented on by National Assembly delegates at the recent 6th Session, the Ministry of Public Security proposed ban drivers of vehicles with alcohol content from participating in traffic to have strict sanctions, gradually forming the habit and culture of ‘If you drink alcohol, don’t drive’.
Using alcohol – many harmful effects
According to the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Health has organized research, consulted international experiences, organized sociological investigations, and scientific seminars on “Harmful effects of alcohol and beer on road traffic participants.” ” on January 29, and also consulted medical experts at major hospitals in Vietnam. This shows that alcohol directly affects the mental health and behavior of people, especially those who drive vehicles after consuming alcohol. Scientists are in high agreement that drivers of vehicles participating in road traffic who use alcohol and beer must be strictly punished.
From June 2022 to December 2023, the number of deaths and injuries caused by road traffic accidents related to alcohol and beer accounts for 20% of the total number of deaths and injuries caused by road traffic accidents, Of these, 80% are caused by drivers who have consumed alcohol. From 2018 to 2023, the total number of victims coming to emergency and treatment facilities at medical examination and treatment facilities caused by road traffic accidents is 2,742,395 people, the number of victims suffering from injuries. 381,269 people (accounting for 13.9%). Of which, the number of victims related to alcohol is 425,619 people, the number of victims with traumatic brain injury is 70,522 people (accounting for 16.6%). Thus, the rate of victims with traumatic brain injuries due to road traffic accidents related to alcohol is higher than the rate of victims with traumatic brain injuries in general.
According to statistics, a sociological survey of 43,765 prisoners serving prison sentences in prisons of the Ministry of Public Security, 22,442 prisoners used alcohol and beer before committing the crime (accounting for 51.28%, for 7 groups of crimes such as: Murder, intentionally causing injury, disturbing public order, rape, resisting people on duty, violating regulations on road traffic and violating regulations on waterway vehicle control).
Controlling alcohol concentration violations for drivers is very effective. In 2023, after the authorities strengthen handling of vehicle drivers violating alcohol concentration, the number of traffic accidents related to alcohol use will decrease by 25% and 50%. people died, 22% of people were injured compared to the same period in 2022. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to maintain drastic control and handling, and further promote the effectiveness of this policy.
Suitable for cultural and traffic conditions in Vietnam
Using alcohol and beer while driving is a social problem not only in Vietnam but also in the world. Currently, countries around the world regulate very strict handling of drivers with alcohol levels, divided into 2 groups. A group of countries that absolutely prohibit violations of alcohol concentration and a group of countries that regulate blood and breath alcohol concentration thresholds allowed for drivers, according to subjects.
However, in today’s cultural and traffic conditions in Vietnam, it is really necessary to have a zero alcohol concentration when driving a vehicle. Traffic conditions in Vietnam today have many unique characteristics. Traffic on the road in Vietnam requires drivers to maintain alertness and react many times faster if unexpected situations occur.
According to surveys by a number of international organizations, Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest consumption of wine, beer and alcoholic beverages in the world (second in Southeast Asia, 10th in Asia). Asia and 29th in the world in terms of alcohol and beer consumption), this is a very alarming rate. Alcohol is one of the leading risks of disability and death in Vietnam. Alcohol and beer use is causing a burden on health, the economy and increasing social problems (more than 50% cases of murder; disturbing public order; rape; violating regulations on driving road vehicles; the offender used alcohol and beer before committing the crime, more than 30% of the cases. families in Vietnam related to alcohol and beer use). Therefore, strict control of alcohol concentration, in addition to its significance for ensuring traffic order and safety, also has profound social significance.
Vietnam’s culinary culture has many unique and respectful features. According to the Ministry of Public Security, if the concentration is zero, do not drink, but if there is a certain limit, the driver may be forced to drink. Besides, alcoholic drinks are addictive, once you start drinking it is not easy to stop, and once you get drunk it will be difficult to remember what the law says. There are cases where people drink too much the day before and are still fined the next day because of drinking too much or because of their physical condition. Many people drink too much the day before, and the next day they still have headaches all day, affecting their ability to drive. Driving in a state of unconsciousness can cause disaster to innocent people like some recent cases of drunk driving causing repeated accidents. In addition, the traffic awareness of a part of the population is currently not good, they disregard the Law, intentionally violate the Traffic Law, and even challenge the authorities when being inspected and punished. physical. When a bad conscience can take the lives of many people, society therefore needs strictness.
Currently, the regulation banning traffic participants from driving vehicles after using alcohol (alcohol content in blood or breath) has been stipulated in the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer. The law does not prohibit drinking alcohol or beer, but only prohibits drinking alcohol and beer and then driving a vehicle in traffic.
For the above reasons, the Ministry of Public Security proposes to continue to inherit the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer prohibiting drivers of vehicles with alcohol content from participating in traffic to have strict sanctions. gradually forming the habit and culture of “If you drink alcohol, don’t drive”. Once awareness and a good traffic culture are formed, we can research and adjust accordingly.
