On January 30 (the second day of Tet), Task Force Team 1 of the Highway Traffic Police Department in Hanoi set up checkpoints to test drivers’ blood alcohol levels on Tran Nhat Duat Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Within 90 minutes (from 1 PM to 2:30 PM), police checked hundreds of drivers and identified six cases of alcohol violations.
Alcohol Violation Cases
Mr. N.T.H. (born in 1986, Bac Tu Liem District) was one of the drivers who were fined. Mr. H. was riding a motorcycle with a blood alcohol level of 0.063 mg/L. When stopped by traffic police, he admitted his violation and explained, “Since it’s Tet, I had a few beers when visiting relatives. I hope you can overlook this on the first day of the year.” However, Mr. H. was still issued a violation notice.
Similarly, Mr. P.V.T. (born in 1988, Ba Dinh District) was also found to have a blood alcohol level under 0.25 mg/L. Mr. T. explained that he had drunk alcohol the previous evening and did not realize he still had alcohol in his system. Mr. T. was also fined according to regulations.
Alcohol checkpoint on Tran Nhat Duat Street during Tet
Strengthening Alcohol Control During Tet
Captain Dao Xuan Dung, head of Task Force Team 1 of the Highway Traffic Police Department, stated that besides ensuring traffic flow at key routes and festival areas, traffic police will continue to strengthen control and strictly handle traffic violations, especially those related to alcohol consumption.
Captain Nguyen Hoang Ninh, head of Task Force Team 1, emphasized that controlling alcohol levels is a crucial task during the Tet traffic safety campaign. This helps prevent potential traffic accidents and ensures the safety of all road users.
Violation Statistics During Tet
According to statistics from the Highway Traffic Police Department in Hanoi, over 1,000 violations were recorded across the city during the six-day Tet holiday (January 25 to January 30). A total of 515 vehicles were impounded, and 163 driving licenses were demerit-pointed. Among these, 444 cases involved alcohol violations, representing a significant portion of the total violations.
The increased focus on alcohol control is not only aimed at ensuring traffic safety but also serves as a reminder to drivers about the severe consequences of drinking and driving. Every violation is handled strictly, regardless of whether it occurs during Tet or any other time.
Conclusion
During Tet, people frequently travel to visit and wish their loved ones and friends well. However, drinking alcohol while driving poses significant risks of causing accidents. The alcohol checkpoints set up by Hanoi’s traffic police have played a vital role in reducing such incidents and ensuring road safety. Each citizen must raise their awareness of traffic laws to collectively create a safe and joyful Tet holiday.
