A truck driver is asked to show vehicle registration certificates and related paperwork. VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

HÀ NỘI — Over 130,000 vehicles were pulled over for inspection across the country on the first two days of a new traffic safety campaign. Fines worth a total of over VNĐ14 billion (US$602 million) were issued.

A new month-long campaign to inspect all road users nationwide started from May 15.

The inspection focuses on coaches, trucks, cars and motorbikes.

According to the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security, on the second day of the campaign, traffic police inspected more than 60,000 vehicles and recorded 13,8000 violations.

Of these, 783 road users were fined for driving under the influence of alcohol and 1,106 were found speeding.

As many as 737 drivers have their driving licences revoked. The total administrative fines collected was nearly VNĐ8.4 billion.

During the month-long campaign, the traffic patrol teams will use cameras to record all traffic violations, drivers retaliating against law enforcement officers, as well as illegal street races and other criminal acts. These would help traffic police handle offences while enhancing transparency.

Traffic police officers are authorised to stop any vehicles to check whether the drivers have sufficient documents, namely vehicle registration certificates, driving licences, certificates of technical safety and environmental protection, insurance, as well as measure the drug and alcohol concentration of the driver.

They will also penalise drivers transporting illegal products, or breaking traffic regulations.

According to Vũ Đỗ Anh Dũng, head of the Traffic Police Department, positive results have been made following the implementation of Decree 100/2019 and the Law on Alcohol Harm Prevention which bans drivers from drinking any alcohol, which took effect on January 1.

However, the inspection of vehicles has been disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Government instructions on social distancing.

Thus, he said, the campaign was part of an effort aimed at strengthening the enforcement of the law, especially dealing with acts of resisting officials who are on duty and illegal motorbike racing which has been on the rise in many localities.

Việt Nam’s new law on drunk driving stipulates that car drivers will be fined VNĐ30-40 million (US$1,297-1,729) and have their driving licences revoked for 22-24 months if they are caught driving under the influence of alcohol.

Drunk motorbike drivers may face an VNĐ8 million ($348) penalty and have their driving licences revoked for two years. — VNS