Traffic violations persist despite police efforts, alcohol offences high

Police in Hà Nội checking alcohol level with a car driver on the night of June 12th. — VNA/VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — Despite efforts by traffic police, the number of traffic violations remains high, particularly those involving driving under the influence of alcohol.

From the beginning of the year, the traffic police force has implemented many measures to ensure traffic order and safety, addressing key behaviours that lead to traffic accidents such as drink driving, speeding, overloading and carrying more passengers than allowed.

In the second quarter of this year, the number of traffic accident fatalities decreased by more than seven per cent and traffic congestion decreased by over 70 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.

In the first six months of the year, traffic accident fatalities decreased by nearly 11 per cent and traffic congestion decreased by nearly 66 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.

Major General Nguyễn Văn Trung, Director of the Traffic Police Department, told Việt Nam News Agency that the traffic order and safety situation remains complex, with traffic accidents in the second quarter increasing by over 11 per cent and traffic injuries increasing by over 22 per cent, compared to the same period in 2023.

Three particularly serious traffic accidents in Hà Tĩnh, Ninh Bình and Đắk Lắk provinces resulted in sixteen deaths, mainly due to driver negligence.

Accidents mostly occur on national highways and at night and early morning. All traffic accident perpetrators were men, mostly aged 28-55, with motorcycles involved in over 50 per cent of the accidents.

Trung said that in the second quarter, over one million traffic violations were handled, with 275,130 cases of alcohol violations, accounting for 22, 23 per cent of total violations.

In the first six months of this year, out of over 2.1 million road, rail, and waterway traffic violations, there were over 501,000 cases of drink driving, accounting for 19,85 per cent of all violations.

In HCM City, in the second quarter of 2024 alone, nearly 40,900 thousand cases of alcohol and drug violations were handled, an increase of 10.9 per cent compared to the same period.

Traffic police in Lạng Son Province handling drivers violating alcohol concentration limits.

Hà Nội’s Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, Dương Đức Tuấn, said that in the second quarter of this year, Task Force 141 of the city’s police detected and handled 2,151 cases of drink driving.

In Đồng Nai Province, the provincial police deployed over 14,000 patrol teams to handle traffic order and safety violations, detecting 123,300 cases in the first six months, with over 16,700 of which related to alcohol violations, marking an increase of over 7,000 cases from the same period last year.

Ngô Tân Phượng, Vice Chairman of Bắc Ninh Province, said the province directed the police to intensify patrols and handle traffic violations, focusing on key behaviours leading to traffic accidents, such as drug and alcohol violations and speeding.

In the first six months of the year, authorities penalised nearly 28,500 cases, with almost 12,000 involving alcohol violations. This represents a 101 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023.

In Hà Tĩnh Province, where the traffic accident situation is severe, there were 233 accidents resulting in 111 deaths and 160 injuries in the first six months of the year. These figures reveal a 40 per cent increase in accidents, a 13.3 per cent increase in deaths, and a 67 per cent increase in injuries compared to the same period in 2023.

The provincial Traffic Safety Department leader said that over 80 per cent of accidents were due to the awareness of road users, with alcohol violations accounting for 14 per cent.

“Despite determined enforcement, alcohol violations remain the highest among all violations. Each day, over 5,000 cases of alcohol and speeding violations are handled,” Major General Trung said.

“Over 20 per cent of traffic accidents are related to alcohol use. This is a matter we have focused on addressing resolutely, but the situation has not improved significantly.”

Vice Chairman Phượng of Bắc Ninh Province stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to reduce traffic accidents, focusing particularly on behaviours like alcohol and speeding violations.

He highlighted proactive local measures to ensure traffic safety, tailored to regional needs, including the development of a ‘Traffic Safety Province’.

In Hà Nội, Vice Chairman Tuấn recommended intensifying inspections and enforcement of traffic regulations.

He proposed that the Ministry of Transport advocate for increased penalties on specific violations known to cause congestion and accidents, such as alcohol violations, overloading and speeding.

Major General Trung urged local authorities to strictly adhere to government directives aimed at enhancing road safety and order. — VNS