Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Provincesand cities nationwide have stepped up inspections to stop coach and truckdrivers from drinking alcohol or using drugs.

The move follows a series ofdeadly accidents involving truck drivers who tested positive for alcohol anddrugs.

The latest case happened in Hai Duongprovince on January 21, which left eight people dead and injured seven others.The accident occurred when the truck slammed into pedestrians walking on theside of National Highway 5A in Kim Thanh district.

The driver was later testedpositive for methamphetamine. He admitted that he was drowsy at the time of theaccident and had used meth.

Hanoi’s Department of Transporthas decided to revoke the business licence of the company that owns the truck.

Earlier this month, a containertruck hit 21 motorbikes waiting at a red light in the Mekong Delta province ofLong An, killing four people and injuring 18 others. The driver tested positivefor heroine and alcohol.

Hanoi’s Department of Transporthas instructed all transport businesses test drivers and dismiss all those whotest positive for drugs, according to the deputy director of the department, VuHa.

Random tests for truck drivershave been taking place since January 9, and many have been fired for usingdrugs.

The Department of Transport inHCM City has also been working with local traffic police to test drivers atcoach stations.

Any driver found to have beenusing alcohol or drugs would have their license revoked, according to thedepartment.

Inspectors in HCM City on January23 stopped two truck drivers for using drugs after testing 23 drivers at Cat LaiPort.

Earlier this month, aninterdisciplinary inspection team in Thu Duc district caught 17 drivers usingdrugs after testing 200 motorbike and truck drivers.

Deputy director of the departmentTran Quang Lam said that inspectors would also increase inspections along roadsleading to the city.

Traffic police in Long An provincehave carried out inspections across the province and assigned inspectors alonghighways around the clock.

In the Mekong Delta provinces ofAn Giang and Vinh Long, traffic police and transport officials have started tocrack down on drivers who violate traffic regulations.

The Traffic Police Departmentunder the Ministry of Public Security said a nationwide inspection would becarried out on trucks and coaches with over eight seats from now until the endof February, focusing on drivers drinking alcohol and using drugs.

An inspection team on January 21 checkedrandom truck drivers along Phap Van-Cau Gie Highway, the southern gateway to Hanoi,and stopped one truck driver for using drugs. The driver was transporting fruitfrom Long An to Lao Cai.   

Vu Anh Tuan, Director of the Viet Duc Traffic Study Centre, said agenciesshould regularly inspect drivers. Stricter punishments were also needed todeter drivers from violating regulations, he said.

Le Thanh Thao, head of transportfirm Quang Chau in HCM City, said that transport businesses did not want to employdrivers that use alcohol or drugs.

Transport businesses need toconduct regular training to warn their drivers to abide by traffic regulationsand not drink alcohol or use drugs, according to Thao.-VNS/VNA