On the afternoon of November 23, the National Assembly discussed the draft Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety in the hall. 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 a vehicle while having alcohol in their blood or breath."

The report synthesizes the opinions of National Assembly deputies at the discussion session, most 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.

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

Regarding prohibited behaviors, many opinions suggested considering an absolute ban on people “driving vehicles while having alcohol 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 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 the blood or breath is a prohibited act).

The Government report clearly states that drivers who drink alcohol will have their ability to judge and handle situations when participating in traffic affected. In fact, there have been many traffic accidents with serious consequences, killing and injuring many people, the cause of which was the driver violating alcohol concentration.

After a period of drastic implementation of controlling and handling violations of alcohol concentration, 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 study and evaluate carefully and thoroughly 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 the prohibition on controlling and using unmanned aerial vehicles on the road surface, within the protected area in the air, and in 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 for 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, there are the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, and a number of related ministries to jointly supervise.

Explaining the content of the 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 the 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 exceeding 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 in the world to consider raising the alcohol concentration threshold to 30mg/100ml of blood to handle violations.