HÀ NỘI — Localities nationwide have stepped up inspections to stop coach and truck drivers from drinking alcohol or using drugs.

The move follows a series of deadly accidents involving truck drivers who tested positive for alcohol and drugs.

The latest case happened in Hải Dương Province on Monday, which left eight people dead and injured seven others. The accident occurred when the truck slammed into pedestrians walking on the side of National Highway 5A in Kim Thành District.

The driver was later tested positive for methamphetamine. He admitted that he was drowsy at the time of the accident. He also admitted to using meth.

Hà Nội’s Department of Transport has decided to revoke the business licence of the company that owns the truck.

Earlier this month, a container truck hit 21 motorbikes waiting at a red light in Mekong Delta province of Long An, killing four people and injuring 18 others. The driver tested positive for heroine and alcohol.

Hà Nội’s Department of Transport has instructed all transport businesses test drivers and dismiss all those who test positive for drugs, according to the department’s deputy director, Vũ Hà.

Random tests for truck drivers have been taking place since January 9, and many have been fired for using drugs.

The Department of Transport in HCM City has also been working with local traffic police to test drivers at coach stations.

Any driver found to have been using alcohol or drugs would have their license revoked, according to the department.

Inspectors in HCM City yesterday stopped two truck drivers for using drugs after testing 23 drivers at Cát Lái Port.

Earlier this month, an interdisciplinary inspection team in Thủ Đức District caught 17 drivers using drugs after testing 200 motorbike and truck drivers.

Deputy director of the department Trần Quang Lâm told Tuổi trẻ (Youth) newspaper that inspectors would also increase inspections along roads leading to the city.

Traffic police in Long An Province have carried out inspections across the province and assigned inspectors along highways around the clock.

In the Mekong Delta provinces of An Giang and Vĩnh Long, traffic police and transport officials have started to crack down on drivers who violate traffic regulations.

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

An inspection team on Monday checked random truck drivers along Pháp Vân-Cầu Giẽ Highway, the southern gateway to Hà Nội, and stopped one truck driver for using drugs. The driver was transporting fruit from Long An to Lào Cai.   

Stricter punishment was also needed to deter drivers from violating regulations, he said.

Lê Thành Thảo, head of transport firm Quang Châu in HCM City, told the newspaper that transport businesses did not want to employ drivers that use alcohol or drugs.

Transport businesses need to conduct regular training to warn their drivers to abide by traffic regulations and not drink alcohol or use drugs, according to Thảo. — VNS