Hanoi Department of Transport has asked local transport companies to fire all drivers found to be positive with drugs.

Hanoi cracks down on drug-positive truck drivers

Hanoi has 306 transport firms with 172 freight companies, 60 inter-province passenger transport companies and 74 taxi companies. The number of drivers reaches tens of thousands of people.

From January 9 to 28, the companies were asked to co-operate with the departments of health, sign contracts with capable facilities to carry out a health check for their drivers and test for morphine, heroin, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. The companies must report their findings to the department afterwards.

"Drug-positive drivers must be fired immediately," said Vu Ha, deputy director of Hanoi Department of Transport.

He went on to say that as of now, two companies had confirmed drivers with bad health and were tested positive with drugs. One of them is the driver at a transport company in Quang Minh Industrial Zone. Another transport company in Tay Ho District reported that 3% out of 879 drivers have bad health.

On January 21, the police carried out a surprise check on random drivers on Phap Van-Cau Gie highway in two hours. A driver who drove a dragon fruit truck from Long An to Lao Cai Province was tested positive.

Colonel Nguyen Quang Nhat from the Ministry of Public Security said in the coming days, they would continue carrying out more random tests on drivers on other highways.

On January 15, HCM City traffic police also announced that they would intensify alcohol and illegal drug checks among drivers in an attempt to reduce traffic accidents during the Tet holiday.

Drug use is high among commercial truck drivers as amphetamines and cocaine help them stay awake.

Police checks have revealed many drivers as drug positive. The drivers said they knew about the dangers of driving under the influence but they had no other choice due to the high-pressure deadlines they were operating under. 

Four people were killed and 18 were injured when a truck ran into dozens of motorbikes waiting at a red light in Long An Province on January 2. The driver in the case tested positive for alcohol and drugs.

Most recently, on January 21, a truck driver who caused a tragic accident in the northern province of Hai Duong killing eight people has been tested positive for drugs. 

Tien Phong/Dtinews