The National Traffic Safety Committee is cracking down on drink driving with a new campaign.

A driver performs a breathalyser test on the Phap Van – Cau Gie Highway in Hanoi. Starting December 15, traffic police nationwide will use breathalyser tests to identify drunken drivers.

Starting December 15, traffic police nationwide will use breathalyser tests to identify drivers who have consumed too much alcohol. They will also step up inspections during Tet, when holiday drinking leads to many accidents.

The committee will raise public awareness about the consequences of driving drunk and organise symposiums on the social responsibility of those who make, distribute, trade and advertise alcoholic beverages.

As part of the campaign, a number of bars in Hanoi, Da Nang and HCM City will encourage their customers not to drive after drinking, create overnight parking places for customers and work with public transport services to bring customers home safely, according to committee vice chairman Khuat Viet Hung.

Drink driving causes 12,000 deaths in the capital each year. A survey of Hanoi's major hospitals released last year revealed that 62 per cent of people involved in traffic accidents are under the influence of alcohol and more than half suffer serious brain injuries.

Alcohol decreases the ability of drivers to control their vehicles, causing blurred vision, lack of concentration and sleepiness. Reaction times also fall by 10-30 per cent.