NA approves zero-tolerance policy for driving under the influence of alcohol

National Assembly deputies cast their votes on the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng

HÀ NỘI — The National Assembly (NA) has agreed to a ban on driving with any level of blood alcohol, on the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, in its working session on Thursday morning.

The law in its entirety was passed with 388 out of 450 votes in favour, or 79.84 per cent of the total number of NA deputies.

A total of 293 NA deputies, or 75.52 per cent of the total voting participants, agreed to the zero-tolerance policy.

The remaining 24.48 per cent of voting deputies proposed imposing the ban, while specifying the lowest limit of blood alcohol concentration allowed for drivers. Eight other deputies suggested other measures.

Presenting a report on the law, Chairman of the NA Committee on Defence and Security Lê Tấn Tới said that this is not a new regulation, having been included in the 2008 Road Traffic Law and 2019 Law on Prevention and Control of Harms of Liquor and Beer Abuse.

Delegates agreed that without strict measures, the risks of traffic violations and accidents will increase, causing harm to life, health and assets of drivers, as well as their families and society as a whole.

Tới also requested that the Ministry of Health (MOH) issue technical guidelines on measuring ethanol levels in cases with elevated endogenous ethanol due to medical conditions, or auto-brewery syndrome, without alcohol consumption.

The NA Standing Committee has also ordered the inclusion of the MOH’s responsibilities on this matter in Clause 5, Article 87 of the law. — VNS