The World Health Organization praises Vietnam for its resolve in preventing drink driving after the nation approved a modified decree to raise pecuniary and extra penalties starting next month for driving under the influence of alcohol.

After the governmental Decree 71 was announced last week, WHO released a media statement yesterday, recognizing Vietnam’s strengthened determination to make roads safe.

Under the new decree that will take effect in November, intoxicated drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 0.08g/dl blood will be fined from VND10 – 15 million (US$481 – 821), which is 2.5 times higher than existing levels.

Penalties for motorbike drivers are from VND2-3 million. Simultaneously, the vehicles in offence and driving licenses will be revoked from 10-60 days.

The modified decree also stipulates that drivers with a BAC over 0.05g/dl blood will have their vehicles detained for 10 days, a penalty which previously only applied to riders with BAC over 0.08g/dl.

Surveys find that over 30 percent of road traffic toll and 60 percent of hospitalized patients involving traffic accident have a BAC above the legal limit.

“The causal relationship between alcohol and road trauma is well established and for the majority of adults, a few drinks in a short space of time is all it takes to seriously impair driving ability substantially increasing the risk of having a crash resulting in serious or even fatal injuries,” said Dr Takeshi Kasai, WHO Representative to Vietnam.