Hai Duong prevents dangers from drug-impaired drivers

From October 10-20, the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee organized health checks and drug use checks for drivers.

Unforeseeable danger

Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen, Head of the Front Work Committee, Deputy Head of Co Phuc Bac village, Kim Luong commune, now Kim Lien commune (Kim Thanh) is one of the lucky survivors of the tragic traffic accident more than 5 years ago.

On the afternoon of January 21, 2019, Ms. Yen and the delegation of the Commune Fatherland Front Committee visited the martyrs' cemetery during the Congress. While the group was walking on the rough lane at km76+450, in Kim Lien Commune, they were hit by a "crazy" truck 29C-719.53, causing 8 people in the group to die forever, Ms. Yen and 6 others were injured. Until now, when recalling the moment between life and death, Ms. Yen is still afraid and sad because many people who worked with her are no longer here.

The driver who caused the accident that afternoon was Luong Van Tam, born in 1991 in Tinh Tuc town, Nguyen Binh district (Cao Bang). After the accident, the driver was tested for drugs in his body, the result was positive. The driver said that he was sleepy, causing the tragic accident. Although the driver had to pay the price and was convicted, the pain and trauma still lingers for many families.

Recently, at 4:15 p.m. on August 1, at km 59+380, on National Highway 5, in Ai Quoc ward (Hai Duong city), an accident also occurred involving a driver using drugs.

Ms. PTTH in Tien Trung area, Ai Quoc ward recounted that she was sitting in her house that day when she suddenly heard a loud noise, followed by a clanging sound in front of her house. She ran out and saw a truck rushing up the sidewalk, blocking the door, knocking down two pillars supporting the roof of her family's pharmacy; damaging the vegetable stall next door and some vehicles parked on the sidewalk.

The driver who caused the accident was Mr. NVĐ., born in 1998 in Vinh Niem ward, Le Chan district (Hai Phong). At that time, Mr. Đ. was driving a 15C-324.78 truck on National Highway 5 in the direction of Hai Phong - Hanoi. When he reached Tien Trung area, he lost control and crashed into the concrete strip separating National Highway 5 and the Tien Trung market service road. After that, the car crashed onto Ms. H.'s sidewalk, damaging 2 motorbikes, 1 electric bicycle and 2 corrugated iron roof support pillars.

Fortunately, there were no injuries in the accident, and property damage was estimated at around 25 million VND. Test results showed that Mr. D. tested positive for drugs.

Car lost control and crashed into a stall in Tien Trung area, Ai Quoc ward (Hai Duong city) on the afternoon of August 1 (photo provided by a reader)

Traffic accidents involving drivers using drugs have unpredictable consequences. Because using drugs will cause hallucinations and loss of control of the vehicle, causing traffic insecurity. In the first 9 months of 2024, the whole province had 3 traffic accidents caused by drivers using drugs, injuring 4 people.

Strictly handle

Identifying that driving under the influence of drugs is one of the direct causes of many traffic accidents, the traffic police force in Hai Duong province regularly increases patrols and controls on routes and areas, focusing on strictly handling violations. Local police deploy patrols, controls, and handles violations according to the topic "People driving on the road with drugs in their bodies, violating alcohol concentration".

In the first 9 months of 2024, the provincial traffic police force detected and handled 16 cases of drivers with drugs, fined 140 million VND; in 2023, 12 cases were handled, fined 112 million VND.

In order to strengthen control over transport business activities and drivers, especially the use of drugs while driving, every year, the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee organizes health and drug checks for drivers working at enterprises, cooperatives, and households engaged in passenger and freight transport by car in the province. On average, each year, 1,000-2,000 drivers come for health and drug checks.

Drug testing is carried out strictly step by step: instructions for taking test samples, filling in information, issuing code, distributing urine sample tubes, performing the test. If the result is negative, the driver will receive the results and be allowed to leave. In case of positive results, the drug crime investigation police force will be transferred to investigate, clarify and have a plan to handle according to regulations.

Traffic police forces across the province have stepped up strict handling of alcohol and drug violations by drivers (photo provided by the agency)

During the recent inspection from October 10-20, 1,618 drivers from enterprises, cooperatives, and transportation businesses in the province came for inspection. The results showed that 5 cases tested positive for drugs. As soon as the results were available, the Traffic Safety Committee temporarily suspended the driver's license and requested that drivers not operate vehicles when their health was not guaranteed.

According to a representative of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee, the drivers who tested positive in the recent inspection were due to taking Western medicine. After a period of monitoring, when the drivers test negative again, they will be allowed to continue working.

Mr. Le Kha Lan, Head of Operations of SM Green Taxi Hai Duong branch, said that in the recent health and drug test for drivers, SM Green Taxi had more than 300 drivers participating, reaching about 98%. Mr. Lan commented: "The health check and drug test by the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee was large-scale, the monitoring process was strict to prevent fraud, and the results were accurate."

Recently, the SM Green Taxi branch in Hai Duong had a case of a driver testing positive for drugs due to taking cold medicine. The company then suspended the driver from work for 3 days for monitoring. The retest result was negative.

In 2023, the company also terminated the labor contract of a driver who tested positive for drugs through testing results from the Provincial Traffic Safety Board. When initially recruited, the driver's health check and drug test showed nothing unusual, but the drug test organized by the Traffic Safety Board gave a positive result. The driver later admitted that he had once gone to a nightclub with a friend and used ecstasy. Immediately after receiving notice from the Provincial Traffic Safety Board, the branch terminated the contract with the driver.

According to Mr. Nguyen Trac Thoan, Director of Tan Viet Passenger and Tourism Transport Cooperative in Tan Viet Commune (Thanh Ha), health plays an important role for drivers because it directly affects the driver's ability to concentrate, reflexes and ability to handle situations. Right from the time of recruitment, the cooperative has checked the health of drivers and every 6 months, the cooperative will have drivers undergo health checks and drug tests. Driving on the road not only ensures the safety of life and property for oneself but also ensures the safety of other people participating in traffic, so the cooperative is determined not to use drivers who do not meet health requirements.

For 9 consecutive years, the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee has organized health check-ups and drug testing for drivers. Over the years, the number of positive drug cases has gradually decreased. In 2022, Hai Duong detected 11 positive cases, in 2023 it was 7 cases. In 2024 it was 5 cases (however, these positive cases were due to the use of Western medicine).

All detected drug-positive cases are strictly handled according to regulations. This helps to improve the responsibility of transport units and businesses and the awareness of drivers to comply with the law when operating vehicles.

In Directive No. 23/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister dated July 26, 2024 on "Strengthening the work of ensuring traffic order and safety for road transport business activities in the new situation", the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Transport to coordinate in researching and proposing additional penalties such as revoking the transport business license for a period of time for units using drivers who test positive for drugs and prohibited substances according to the provisions of law.

Drivers who test positive for drugs when detected, in addition to being administratively fined, will have their driving license revoked and must retake the test to be granted a driving license when they meet the health requirements according to regulations of the Ministry of Health.

PV

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/hai-duong-ngan-chan-hiem-hoa-tu-lai-xe-su-dung-ma-tuy-396229.html