China bans drug addicts from getting driver's licenses

China has decided to ban drug addicts from obtaining driver's licenses, part of its efforts to decrease the incidences of driving under the influence of drugs, according to a circular made public Monday.

Drug addicts who have not recovered from addiction must apply to have their driver's licenses revoked within 30 days. Authorities will revoke the licenses of those who fail to do so in accordance with relevant regulations, the Ministry of Public Security said in the circular on its website.

Police will not accept driver's license applications filed by drug addicts, and this decision will be made based on the official list of registered drug addicts, according to the circular.

The ministry also asked for tightened management on school bus and coach drivers.

Drivers with a history of drug use should be disqualified from driving school buses, and the licenses of school bus drivers who are drug addicts will be revoked, according to the circular.

In addition, the ministry ordered local police to intensify roadside checks and carry out such checks on a regular basis.

Those found to have been driving under the influence of drugs will be punished or fined, and those who are found to be drug addicts will be stripped of their driver's licenses, the circular said.

The circular marks China's latest efforts to curb the incidences of driving under the influence of drugs, as the country has seen an increasing number of such traffic accidents.

Fourteen people died in east China on April 22 in one of the most fatal drug-related traffic accidents. A police investigation revealed that a urine sample taken from the driver of the coach involved in the accident tested positive for drug use.

During a bimonthly session of China's top legislature held in late June, Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu proposed including driving under the influence of drugs in the Criminal Law, as driving under the influence of drugs tends to become a menace without specific laws to reign it in.