On the first day of Tet (Lunar New Year), nationwide alcohol testing will be conducted, with "no exceptions."

At exactly 10:00 AM on the first day of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse), traffic police nationwide simultaneously conducted checks and dealt with drunk driving violations as directed by the Traffic Police Department. The spirit of "no forbidden zones, no exceptions" was emphasized right from the first day of the new year.

At exactly 10:00 AM on February 17th (the first day of the Lunar New Year, Year of the Horse), traffic police forces nationwide simultaneously launched a campaign to inspect and handle drunk driving violations, following a unified directive from the central government. This is considered a strong move on the first day of the new year to ensure traffic order and safety and to raise public awareness of law compliance during the peak holiday season.

According to information from the Traffic Police Department, this inspection campaign was carried out under the direct orders of Major General Do Thanh Binh – Director of the Traffic Police Department. The scope of implementation covers the entire country, from major cities to rural areas, from national highways to provincial roads and key expressways. The simultaneous deployment across the country is considered an unprecedented step in alcohol control efforts at the beginning of the year.

This activity is part of the overall plan to ensure traffic order and safety during the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse) and other major festivals taking place in early 2026. Representatives of the authorities affirmed that the inspection process was carried out rigorously, strictly handling violations with the spirit of "no forbidden zones, no exceptions, no fear of avoiding the New Year." This message clearly reflects the overarching principle: even on the first day of spring, all violations will be dealt with according to the law.

In fact, checking and penalizing drunk driving on the first day of Tet (Lunar New Year) is not a new practice. In recent years, traffic police have maintained this activity to prevent incidents caused by alcohol consumption. However, the difference this year is the simultaneous nationwide implementation, creating a strong deterrent effect and demonstrating unified direction from the central government to local authorities.

In Hanoi, traffic police teams quickly deployed their plans to each task force. Numerous checkpoints were set up on major roads, key intersections, and city gateways. The inspection process was conducted openly, transparently, and according to proper procedures. Authorities stopped vehicles as required, requested document checks, and measured blood alcohol levels in drivers.

During duty, several drivers were found to be operating vehicles with alcohol in their breath. These individuals admitted to being careless, believing they were only traveling short distances within the city or near home, and therefore consumed alcohol before driving. However, according to current regulations, simply having alcohol in their breath while driving constitutes a violation and will be severely punished with appropriate penalties.

Notably, right from the start of the inspection, there were cases of drivers refusing to comply with the alcohol breath test, abandoning their vehicles and leaving the scene. Authorities documented the incidents and proceeded with legal action. Non-cooperation and deliberate avoidance of inspection may also be subject to severe penalties, depending on the nature and severity of the violation.

Nevertheless, overall observations show that the majority of road users seriously complied with the inspection requirements. Many drivers proactively stopped their vehicles, cooperated with the alcohol level test, and presented all necessary documents. Notably, on the highways, authorities detected almost no violations related to alcohol levels during the first inspection hour of the first day of Tet.

The car driver "escaped" from the alcohol testing checkpoint, dragging the official vehicle with flames An Nhi16:59:54 25/01/2024When the alcohol control team gave the order, the car driver did not comply but accelerated and fled, hitting and injuring a traffic police lieutenant, dragging an official motorbike under the car.