CPV: Coinciding with the launch of Vietnam's annual road traffic safety month, today August 31, the WHO and the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) announced the commencement of a new program to strengthen road safety in Vietnam, particularly prevention of drinking and driving, a behavior that places individuals as well as other innocent road users at substantially greater risk of road injury and trauma.

 

Implemented as part of a global program of ten countries with high burdens of road traffic injury, the RS10-V (Road safety in ten countries) Vietnam program involves a consortium of international partners (WHO, along with the Global Road Safety Partnership and Johns Hopkins University) working with various national and provincial road safety officials under the coordination of the NTSC.

 

The first phase of this new program will be implemented in Ha Nam and Ninh Binh provinces until the end of 2011 with all partners providing financial and technical support to national and provincial authorities in the implementation of select elements of the National Action Plan for Prevention of Drinking and Driving.

 

WHO Representative to Vietnam Dr Jean-Marc Olivé said: "Alcohol impairment is a major risk factor for road trauma in Vietnam. Local research indicates more than 34% of road fatalities were associated with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeding the legal limit”.

 

Over the next 18 months, the RS10 program will support the implementation of a range of good practice interventions including mass media social marketing campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of drink driving and the increased enforcement capacity in police, training for key stakeholders and enhanced enforcement operations utilizing specifically procurement breathalyzers.

 

“WHO congratulates the Government on the stringent position they have taken in the zero tolerance approach to drinking and driving. Widespread and visible enforcement is one of the most effective interventions to prevent road crashes, particularly that caused by intoxicated and dangerous drivers and riders", added Dr Olivé.

 

According to Mr. Than Van Thanh – Chief Secretariat of NTSC, in line with international good practice, the 2008 road safety law reduced the legal BAC for motorcyclists from 80 to 50mg/dl blood.

 

Currently, Decree 34, taking effect in May 2010 also substantially increased the severity of penalties, more than doubling fines established in 2007.

(VNA)