Vietnam implements new fiat requiring car drivers to take lessons on drunk driving
Thursday, January 02, 2020, 10:48 GMT+7
Car driver’s license candidates are required to spend an additional two hours learning about the harmful effects of alcoholic drinks on driving in Vietnam from this year on, according to a new fiat issued by the Ministry of Transport.
The requirement is included in Circular 38/2019/TT-BGTVT, which has been implemented since Wednesday.
Candidates registering for a driving test in 2020 will have to study a two-hour module on prevention and control of harmful effects of alcoholic beverages, said Luong Duyen Thong, an official from the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam.
Drivers who registered for their test in 2019 but will take it in 2020 are not required to learn this module, he noted.
Another new requirement is driving centers have to install cameras to monitor theory and practice tests and stream them to the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam, local transport departments, and relevant agencies from January 1 onward.
Simulation modeling has also been added to driving tests while from 2021 candidates will have to practice driving on expressways, mountain passes, and slippery roads.
Surveillance devices will be installed in driving-practice cars to monitor the time and distance a driver covers from 2021 forward.
From June 1, a QR code will be added on the driver’s license to facilitate management.
“The code will make it easier to spot fake licenses,” said Nguyen Van Huyen, director general of the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam.
“Traffic police officers will use smartphone apps to scan a driver’s license to check if it’s fake.”
From January 1, bicyclists will be fined if they drink and ride.
Cyclists shall be subject to a VND400,000-600,000 (US$17.3-26) fine when they are found riding after drinking alcoholic beverages, says Government Decree 100/2019/ND-CP.
Car drivers will be fined VND30-40 million ($1,297-1,729) and have their driving license revoked for 22-24 months if they break regulations on drink-driving.
Motorcyclists will face a VND6-8 million ($259-346) and have their driving license revoked for 22-24 months for the same offense.
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