The Ministry of Transport wants to raise fines for drunk driving up to VND16-18 million and suspend licences for a year against a backdrop of increased traffic accidents.
Accident on Thuan Phuoc Bridge
A drunken driver killed three and severely injured two others in Danang after a crash on Thuan Phuoc Bridge on July 13. Drunk driving accounts for between 16% to 20% of traffic accidents in the country.
Nguyen Van Thach, head of Traffic Safety Department, said the increased fines would act as a deterrent.
In an attempt to curb the problem, the Transport Ministry proposed fines from VND8 million (USD380) to VND12 million for drivers who have 50 to 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood or prescribed alcohol per 0.25 to 0.4 mg/L of breath.
Drivers have over 80mg/100ml of blood or 0.4mg/L or breath alcohol will be fined VND18 million and have their licenses suspended from 10 months to a year.
Motorbike drivers may face a fine of VND4 million to VND6 million and suspended licence of four to six months.
In addition, the ministry also wants to raise the fine ten-fold, to a maximum of VND4 million, for motorbike drivers who keep using car-only highways. The punishments and fines for other violations such as a lack of helmet are raised or adjusted to be more effective.
It is expected that the adjusted regulations will go into effect in December.
