China's military vehicle drivers have been ordered to watch
their behavior and abide strictly by the road rules, according to a
new regulation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The regulation, jointly issued by the four PLA general
departments -- the Headquarters of the General Staff, General
Political Department, General Logistics Department and General
Armament Department -- prohibits speeding, running red lights and
drink-driving.
Other banned behavior includes dangerous lane changes, fatigue
driving and running through restricted areas.
The regulation requires drivers to abide by national and local
traffic rules. "Those who are recorded and reported by the police
will be punished accordingly," it said.
PLA transportation and logistic departments at all levels are
required to improve supervision and regularly check military cars
to ensure safe driving and "maintain the image of the army",
according to the regulation.
In China, military cars are legally entitled to certain
privileges, including exemption from road tolls, but they are often
seen blatantly breaking road rules. Police are usually reluctant to
pull over drivers of military cars for fear of being accused of
obstructing military missions.
To ease public complaints about military drivers, the PLA
launched a four-month campaign in September last year to monitor
and strictly punish bad driving.
The regulation has been effective since Nov. 19 and also applies
to the armed police.
(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2007)